MOSCOW, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Wednesday that if F-16 fighters given to Ukraine are used from third-party territories, they'll be legitimate targets for Russia, no matter where they are.
"If they are used from airfields of third countries, they become a legitimate target for us, no matter where they are," Putin said during a conversation with military pilots in the Tver region.
Ukraine has long been asking its partners to transfer F-16 fighters to it. However, the West emphasizes the impossibility of supplying Kiev with such aircraft without proper preliminary training of pilots and ground service personnel. Denmark, the Netherlands, the United States and several other Western countries are currently actively involved in training Ukrainian pilots.
However, Kiev's partners note that the importance of the F-16 should not be overestimated. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said these fighters alone will not be able to fundamentally change the situation in the combat zone, although they will partially strengthen the capabilities of the Ukrainian troops. ■
