Vladimir Putin’s recent threat made against F-16 fighter jets should be taken very seriously, the world has been warned.
Swedish Lieutenant Colonel Joakim Paasikivi of the Stockholm Defence University told Swedish news agency TT: “If Putin wants a war with NATO, that’s how you start it. Then it will be a third world war.”
Earlier this week, the Russian President branded “drivel” Western fears the Kremlin is planning to attack NATO countries.
However, referring to the promise made by some EU nations to deliver Ukraine F-16 fighter jets, Putin added: “Of course, if they are used from the airfields of third countries, they become a legitimate target for us, wherever they are.”
Putin added Russia “must take into account” the fact that the US-manufactured aircraft can carry nuclear weapons.
Lt Col Paasikivi believes that Putin’s mention of the nuclear capability of the F-16s fits into the Kremlin’s narrative that shows the West as the aggressor and Russia as the victim.
He said: “For Putin, it is important to constantly present the West as the major threat to the domestic audience. The West’s so-called nuclear threat is at the centre of the entire Russian narrative.”
Since the beginning of the unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine, Putin has waged the nuclear threat several times, suggesting he could press the red button should the Russian nuclear doctrine be breached.
While Europe and the US have been repeatedly threatened over the past two years by Putin, his propagandists and political allies, the Swedish lieutenant colonel believes Putin’s latest remarks presented a new detail.
He explained: “The same threats have been made in the past, but to so explicitly identify the F-16s and strike targets in the West is new.”
Lt Col Paasikivi thinks Putin is concerned about Ukraine receiving F-16s and seeing its combat capability boosted.
It comes as a growing number of Ukrainian pilots have been training ahead of the promised delivery.
Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Belgium have so far pledged to provide Ukraine with 45 military aircraft – but the number could rise to 60 by the end of the year.
