Lavrov: Russia views F-16 transfer to Ukrainian Armed Forces as nuclear signal

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has emphasized that Moscow will interpret the transfer of US F-16 fighter jets to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) as a signal from NATO in the nuclear sphere.

However, Lavrov asserted that such deliveries would not alter the battlefield dynamics.

According to Gazeta.ru, Lavrov stated, "We cannot ignore the delivery of these systems to the Kyiv regime as a deliberate signalling action by NATO in the nuclear sphere."

He said that US F-16 aircraft have long been the main delivery vehicle for the North Atlantic Alliance's nuclear missions. Lavrov noted that by supplying these fighter jets to Ukraine, Russia seeks to make it clear that NATO and the United States are "ready for literally anything" within the framework of the Ukrainian conflict.

He stressed that the F-16s would be destroyed by the Russian army in the same way as other types of weapons handed over to Kyiv by the West.