Russia: F-16 Fighters Will Escalate the Ukraine War

Moscow indicated on Monday that "the decision by Denmark and the Netherlands to provide Ukraine with its first F-16 fighter jets will only escalate the conflict," while Kyiv stated that "the aircraft will tip the balance in its favor and help it end the Russian invasion." Russian Ambassador to Denmark, Vladimir Barbin, said in a statement: "By hiding behind the premise that Ukraine should determine the terms of peace, Denmark is effectively and verbally leaving Ukraine with no other option but to continue military confrontation with Russia." For his part, Danish Defense Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen mentioned that "Ukraine can only use the F-16s within its own territory.” He added: "We donate weapons on the condition that they are used to expel the enemy from Ukrainian territory. Nothing more than that. These are the conditions for tanks, fighter jets, or anything else."