F‑16 jets headed to Ukraine spark strong Russian response
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that handing over F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine "is proof that Washington leads a war gang." Earlier, the head of the State Duma Defense Committee, Gen. Andrei Kartapolov, said that the jets "will not change the course of the special operation." "Russia is ready for this," he declared.
3:47 PM EDT, July 10, 2024
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"The transfer of F-16 jets is underway, coming from Denmark, coming from the Netherlands," announced US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken at the NATO summit. "Those jets will be flying in the skies of Ukraine this summer, to make sure that Ukraine can continue to effectively defend itself against Russian aggression."
Zelensky thanks for the aircraft
The Ukrainians have been waiting for these machines for months, and the F-16 holds the greatest hope of breaking the Russian front.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has already thanked the USA, Denmark, and the Netherlands for "taking practical steps to achieve the goal of all Ukrainians: to strengthen the Ukrainian air force with F-16s."
"F-16s will also be used to bolster Ukraine’s air defense. I am confident that they will assist us in better protecting Ukrainians from brutal Russian attacks, such as this week’s strike on the Okhmatdyt children’s hospital in Kyiv," wrote Zelensky on the X portal.
F-16s for Ukraine. Immediate reaction from Russia
The Kremlin quickly reacted to this information. "The transfer of F-16s to Ukraine will not in any way affect the course of the special operation and will change nothing. Russia is ready for this," stated Gen. Andrei Kartapolov, head of the State Duma Defense Committee, in an interview with the propagandistic RIA Novosti.
Moments later, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova made a statement. "This is evidence that Washington is leading a war gang," she declared.
