The Kremlin announced on Thursday that Russian forces are prepared to shoot down any US-built F-16 fighter jets deployed to Ukraine, asserting that such aircraft would not significantly alter the war's trajectory. Lithuanian and US officials verified on Wednesday that Ukraine had taken delivery of the first batch of eagerly anticipated F-16s, which are armed with a 20mm cannon and capable of carrying bombs, rockets, and missiles.
When questioned about the F-16s, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated: "If I am not mistaken, rewards (for shooting them down) have already been promised to Russian forces." He expressed the view that these planes would not serve as a panacea for Kyiv's military efforts. "These planes will arrive and gradually their numbers will dwindle; they will be shot down and destroyed," he predicted. "These deliveries will not be capable of significantly impacting the dynamics of events on the front lines."
