MOSCOW (Reuters) – The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russian forces would shoot down U.S.-built F-16 fighter jets sent to Ukraine, and that the F-16s would have no significant impact on the course of the war.
Lithuanian and U.S. officials confirmed on Wednesday that Ukraine had received the first order of long-awaited jets, which are equipped with a 20mm cannon and can carry bombs, rockets and missiles.
Asked about the F-16s, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “If I’m not mistaken, rewards (for Russian forces to shoot them down) have already been offered.”
He predicted the planes would not be a “magic pill” for Kyiv’s forces.
“These planes will appear and gradually their number will decrease; they will be shot down and destroyed,” he said.
“These deliveries will not be able to significantly influence the dynamics of events at the front.”
(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Writing by Lucy Papachristou; editing by Guy Faulconbridge/Andrew Osborn)
