Russia warns West of 'enormous danger' if Ukraine offers F-16 jets (2023)

Russia's state-run TASS news agency reported on Saturday that Russia's deputy foreign minister had warned Western countries that they would be "in great danger" if they supplied Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets.

"There is movement underway on the so-called escalation scale," Alexander Glushko said on the sidelines of a meeting of Russia's foreign and defense policy council.

"We see that Western countries are still clinging to the escalation scenario. This creates a huge risk for them. In any case, all our plans will take this into account and we have all the necessary means to achieve the stated objectives," said Gru Skoko . added.

Two United States President Joe BidenInform the G7 leadersThe United States will support efforts with allies and partners to train Ukrainian pilots in advanced aircraft, including the F-16, a senior administration official told CNN on Friday.

BidenmessIts top national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters in Japan on Saturday that he had previously opposed the acquisition of fighter jets because he believed in equipping the country to deal with Russia for the long term.

Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyframed your speechFor the Western fighter, his country's survival was at stake, now more than a year after Russia launched a full-scale invasion.

Russia launches 'massive drone strike' again.KyivIn the early hours of Saturday, the city's military administration said it was its eleventh air strike this month.

"The enemy is doing everything possible to hit important targets in the city of Kiev, while depleting air defense resources," the local military said in a statement.

"In this way, the Russians intend to put the civilian population under enormous psychological stress. That is why they attack Kiev from the air almost every day," the statement added.

Air raid sirens in the Ukrainian capital were silenced for just four days in May due to frequent attacks in the region.

According to the statement, Russia used 20 Iranian Shahed drones and a Merlin reconnaissance drone in the latest strike. The military claimed that the Ukrainian Air Force identified and destroyed all aircraft and that no one was injured or killed.

Ukrainian officials added that the attack did not seriously damage any major infrastructure.

Bombing earlier this week:Tuesday morningsee also air strikeIn the city, Russia claimed to have destroyed a US-made Patriot air defense system, although the Ukrainian military said all 18 missiles fired by Russia were intercepted and destroyed.

its two componentsPatriot's battery is damagedThe system "never went offline," according to a US official familiar with the matter.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for his leadership, saying the UK had formed an international coalition to help Ukraine acquire F-16 fighter jets.

The two met during a bilateral meeting in Hiroshima, Japan, on the sidelines of the G7 summit on Saturday, according to a reading by the Ukrainian president.

earlier this week,Great Britain and HollandA press release from Downing Street on Tuesday announced plans to create an "international coalition" to help Ukraine acquire F-16 fighter jets "at a critical moment in its resistance to Putin's aggression".

Procurement of the F-16 fighter jets has been a recent focus for the Ukrainian leader, who emphasized in a recorded speech at a democratic summit in Copenhagen on Monday that the F-16 would help Ukraine "defend freedom".

Friday, the President of the United StatesJoe BidenTelling G7 leaders that it would support a joint effort to train Ukrainian pilots in fourth-generation aircraft, including the F-16, was a major upset for American leaders.

IndianPrime Minister Narendra Modi assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting that his country will do "everything possible" to find a solution to the war in Ukraine.

The two met on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima on Saturday for the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine last year.

"The war in Ukraine is a big problem for the whole world. It also has many implications for the world. But I don't think it's just an economic or political problem. For me, it's a problem of humanity," Modi said. he said.

"I assure you that India and I personally will do everything in our power to resolve this issue," he added.

Zelensky "presented to Modi in detail the Ukrainian peace program and invited India to participate in the implementation of this initiative", said a Ukrainian meeting.

Record:India has strong ties with Russia since the Cold War and remains largely dependent on Moscow.military equipmentRecently, the country increased its purchases of Russian energy.

Although New Delhi provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine during the war, it abstained from voting on UN resolutions calling on Ukraine to withdraw its troops and condemning its invasion.

Last year, Modi spoke to Putin about the need"On the Path of Peace"He had a face-to-face conversation with Russian leaders during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Uzbekistan in September.

Russia launched a series of rocket attacks in Donetsk in eastern Ukraine on Saturday, killing people in the area, said Pavlo Kirilenko, head of the Donetsk Regional Military Command and damage to infrastructure.

"Two people died in Chasiv Yar district. One was injured in Toretsk, four buildings were damaged as well as infrastructure," Kyrylenko said in Telegram.

Kyrylenko addicionouVilledaThere were also dozens of bombings, while two buildings in Bohojavlenka were damaged.

The village of Poltavka was also hit by Russian missiles, damaging a common area and several buildings.

Last week, the Russian Defense Ministry said two senior Russian military officials had been arrested.he was killedin the area.

North of Donetsk, Ukraine strikes backBahamutUkrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hana Malal said the actions reduced Russia's offensive potential and bought time for planned attacks.

Russian troops in the occupied city of Mariupol, in southeastern Ukraine, receive 'reinforcement' to bolster defenses and help move military equipmentexplodeat the Russian base on Friday, according to an aide to the elected mayor of Mariupol.

"Since 8 am, helicopters are actively moving from the direction of Berdyansk along the coast to Mariupol," said Petro Andryushchenko on Saturday.

At least two explosions rocked the Russian-controlled city late on Friday, according to images posted on social media and on residents' accounts. that day,AndryushenkoThe attacked base housed about 150 troops and was mainly used for air defense support, the cable said.

According to Andriushchenko, Russia activated its air defenses on Saturday morning and fired several missiles and Shaheds (attack drones made in Iran) from Yeisk and Primorsko-Akhtarsk towards the coastal villages of Zaporizhzhia.

This week marks one year since the strategic port of Mariupol fell to Russian control.

G7 leaders agreed to "support Ukraine as it faces Russia's illegal war of aggression," according to a joint statement on Saturday.

"We are committed to increasing our diplomatic, economic, humanitarian and military support to Ukraine, at the expense of Russia and those who support its war effort," the group said, while reaffirming "our unwavering support for Ukraine as long as it is needed. , just and lasting".

Leaders also askedChinaHe urged Russia to "immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its troops from Ukraine" and stop its military offensive.

"We encourageChinaSupport a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on territorial integrity and the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, including through direct dialogue with Ukraine," the statement said.

Some background:China has tried to appear as a peacemaker in the conflict, but has yet to ask Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukrainian soil.

While Western leaders hope Chinese leader Xi Jinping can use his close relationship with Putin to end the war, analysts say such an outcome is unlikely at this stage given Beijing's interest in maintaining ties with Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky kicked off his appointment on Saturday with bilateral talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni at the G7 summit in Hiroshima.

His diplomatic foray continued with a one-on-one meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Zelensky remained in the room after speaking with Meloni before Sunak entered and embraced the Ukrainian Prime Minister.

leaderG7Countries decided on a risk management plan such asrusso"The weaponry of energy," according to Saturday's joint statement.

G7 members meet in Hiroshima, Japan, in the presence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"We will work together to ensure that efforts to address economic dependency by strengthening compliance and compliance by G7 members and our partners, including smaller economies, do not fail, with consequences," the statement said.

"Learning from recent incidents of energy manipulation and other financial dependencies, we strongly oppose such actions," he added.

What does all this mean:Russia has long been accused of manipulating energy, prices and supplies as a way to gain political influence.

Europe, in particular, has tried to shed its dependence on Russian energy since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.