Ukraine is in a race to stop Russia's mounting glide-bomb attacks
Business InsiderMar 26
Ukraine: Putin Issues Warning on Use of NATO F-16s
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The Facts
Coming off the back of an election win that secured his fifth term in office, shortly followed by the worst terrorist attack on Russian soil in nearly 20 years, Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin on Wednesday issued words of warning to Ukraine's NATO allies over the delivery of US-made F-16 fighter jets to the war-torn country.
In a speech to Russian pilots in the Tver region, Putin started off his remarks by stating that Russia has no designs on any NATO country. "The idea that we will attack some other country — Poland, the Baltic States, and the Czechs are also being scared — is complete nonsense," Putin said. "It's just drivel."
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Putin starts his speech by claiming that he has no bad intentions against Western countries. Immediately contradicting himself, he then recklessly threatens those countries with attack, saying he would destroy NATO's F-16s aircraft — even if they were outside Ukraine.
Pro-Russia narrative
Russia has been consistent throughout the conflict that if F-16 fighter jets are delivered to Ukraine, they will have to be targeted and destroyed — as is the case with all other foreign-provided weaponry. Russia has also been consistent that if F-16s stage attacks from third countries, the bases in those countries would become legitimate military targets too.