(Dan Tri) – US officials have spoken out about the Russian Foreign Minister’s warning about the possibility of Washington providing F-16s to Ukraine.
Two F-16 fighters of the US Air Force in a training exercise (Photo: US Air Force).
In a statement during his visit to Tajikistan on June 6, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that the US could provide an F-16 fighter version with the ability to carry nuclear weapons to the Ukrainian army.
Responding to Foreign Minister Lavrov’s warning, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby affirmed that Washington does not want to escalate the conflict in Ukraine.
`The first thing I want to tell Foreign Minister Lavrov is that if Russia feels worried about Ukraine’s military capabilities, they can completely withdraw their troops and leave Ukraine,` Mr. Kirby said.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby (Photo: Reuters).
According to a spokesman for the US National Security Council, the F-16 fighter supply scenario is part of a long-term plan to strengthen Kiev’s defense capacity.
`We have been very open and transparent about this plan. However, it will take time for the F-16 fighters to be transferred to Ukraine. We will start with training programs for pilots.`
Spokesperson Kirby reaffirmed US President Joe Biden’s commitment that Washington has no plans to make the Russia-Ukraine conflict more tense.
`The last thing I want to say is that President Biden maintains the view that we do not want to see this conflict escalate, certainly not in the nuclear field. America is not the party that is spreading reckless rhetoric
In recent months, Ukrainian officials have tried to call on the West to provide F-16 fighter jets to strengthen air control capabilities.
However, US media reported on May 18 that although Washington still refuses to grant F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, President Joe Biden’s administration has prepared to approve the re-export of the type by allies.
German Prime Minister Olaf Scholz on May 21 affirmed to the media that pilot training, and further the transfer of F-16 fighters to Ukraine, will not be a factor in changing the outcome of the conflict between Kiev and Ukraine.