Moscow warns of “colossal risks” for supplying Ukraine with US F-16 jets

“We see Western countries are still adhering to the escalation scenario. It involves colossal risks for themselves,” Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko threatened after President Joe Biden agreed at the G7 summit in Hiroshima that NATO members may start training Ukraine pilots on F-16 fighter jets. How many, and who will provide the fourth-generation F-16 fighter jets will be made while pilot training is underway.

“In any case,” Grushko added, “this will be taken into account in all our plans, and we have all the necessary means to achieve the goals we have set.”

Biden met Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the G7 summit. Zelensky has for months been pressing for the US jets to fill the gap in an air force  based on Soviet-era warplanes.

As for the ferocious battle for Bakhmut, Zelensky commented on Saturday: “For today, Bakhmut is only in our hearts,” whereas in Kyiv, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said: “Heavy fighting in Bakhmut. The situation is critical. As of now, our defenders control some industrial and infrastructure facilities in the area and the private sector.”

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