Russia says US-built F-16 fighter jets could be equipped with nuclear weapons
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday that US-built F-16 fighter jets could "house" nuclear weapons and warned that supplying them to Kiev would escalate the conflict, Agerpres.ro reports.
"We have to take into account that one of the F-16 modifications allows "hosting nuclear weapons," Lavrov said in a speech at a military base in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, according to information provided on the Russian Foreign Ministry website.
White House spokesman John Kirby declined to discuss the nuclear capabilities of F-16 fighter jets, but noted that US President Joe Biden has been consistent in his statements that he does not want an escalation of the war, and certainly not in the nuclear field.
"The purpose of providing advanced fighter jets is to help Ukraine defend itself, its airspace and territorial integrity, period," Kirby said.
Kirby also had a message for Lavrov: "If you're concerned about Ukrainian military capabilities, then you should take your troops and leave Ukraine."
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski has long called for F-16 jets, saying their appearance with Ukrainian pilots would be a sure signal from the world that Russia's invasion would end in defeat.
President Biden told G7 leaders last month that Washington supports joint allied training programs for Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets.
But US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said there was no final decision yet in Washington on whether to send the planes.
