Russia** Putin made tough remarks at the "St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2023" against the West's supply of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. He said that if the West really does this, then the fate of these fighters will be the same as the Western-aided "Leopard" tanks that were previously destroyed by the Russian army, and they will eventually burn to ashes on the battlefield in Ukraine!He also said that even if these fighters are deployed at air bases outside Ukraine, as long as the Russian side confirms that they will participate in the war against Russia, then Russia has the right and the need to take them down anywhere, including enemy territory.
Putin's remarks are undoubtedly a warning to NATO and a blow to Ukraine. NATO, for its part, has always wanted to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets to enhance Ukraine's air power, but it does not want to directly clash with Russia. Therefore, they have two options: one is to deploy F-16 fighters on the territory of Ukraine and let Ukraine use it itself;The second is to deploy F-16 fighters to the air bases of NATO member states outside Ukraine and let NATO pilots fly them.
From the point of view of the West, the second option seems to be safer and more effective, because it can avoid the detection and destruction of fighters by the Russian army in advance, and also ensure the maintenance and dispatch of fighters. However, Putin's words make this idea of NATO unrealistic, because Russia will not tolerate any attack on its military targets, who is the non-attacker, and who is the non-attacker. If NATO dares to do so, then Russia will treat both the mainland where the missile is launched and the airfield where it takes off as an enemy, which is tantamount to provoking a full-scale war.
Of course, NATO does not want to do this, they only want to play a certain role in containing and influencing the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, rather than being directly involved in it. As a result, it will be difficult for them to find a member state that is willing to take such a risk and make their airports a target for the Russian army. Even Poland, such an "anti-Russian vanguard", did not dare to do this. Moreover, NATO also knows that if they do so, then it risks triggering a third world war, or even a nuclear war, with catastrophic consequences for either side.
Therefore, NATO can only choose the first way, that is, to deploy F-16 fighters on the territory of Ukraine and let Ukraine use it itself. But what's the use of doing that?Ukraine's air power and air defense systems are far less powerful than Russia's, and even with F-16 fighters, it will be difficult to resist Russian air and missile attacks. Moreover, F-16 fighters are not so easy to hide and protect, they need the support of airfields and other logistical facilities, which are priority targets for the Russian army. Once discovered, the F-16 fighter will become the prey of the Russian army, like the "Leopard" tank, and will be easily destroyed and burned.
In this way, Ukraine will pay a huge price with little effect. This is not what Ukraine wants, but it is what NATO would like to see. Because NATO only wants to consume Russia's strength, and does not care about the losses of Ukraine. Ukraine wants to join NATO, but NATO doesn't want Ukraine. This is NATO's true attitude towards Ukraine. Since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Western military aid to Ukraine has been gradually increasing, but it has also been challenging Russia's bottom line. It is a dangerous game that can trigger uncontrollable consequences.