Putin says he won't start a war with NATO. But Western bases hosting Ukraine F-16s would be targets

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By ILLIA NOVIKOV and BARRY HATTON
Updated 11:22 AM CDT, March 28, 2024

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin scoffed at the possibility of his country launching an attack on a NATO member, calling it “sheer nonsense,” but warned that any Western air base hosting U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets that are slated for deployment in Ukraine would be a “legitimate target” for the Kremlin’s forces.

“Their statements about our alleged intention to attack Europe after Ukraine is sheer nonsense,” Putin said late Wednesday, referring to warnings in the U.S. and Western Europe that Russia could turn its sights on other countries unless it’s stopped.

He noted that the U.S. defense budget is more than 10 times higher than Russia’s.

“In view of that, are we going to wage a war against NATO? It’s ravings,” he told military pilots during a visit to an air base.



Read more: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-putin-f16-target-nato-c1199c3bc78fa7f25e3fff2193e83f50

[ck4829]

1. I don't think that's how it works Vladdy boy

“I can attack NATO-included countries but it’s not an attack on NATO”

Yeah, I don’t think someone’s confident about their chances.

By the way, Putin is the fifth gunman

[AllaN01Bear]

5. he does , all bets are off. all for one thing you know .

[EX500rider]

2. How does he think attacking NATO air bases would not start a war exactly?

[SharonAnn]

13. Since Ukraine is not part of NATO, he wouldn't be attacking a NATO country.

[EX500rider]

15. He said attack Western bases hosting Ukrainian f-16s

[Lovie777]

3. I guess pootie is ready to be ousted....................

[EndlessWire]

4. More stupid talk from a

stupid man. Look out, F16s are coming. Ukrainians apparently inflicted grave wounds on the Russian Navy. Now comes the Russian Air Force. When the war started, Ukraine begged for air support from the West, which we didn't give. And now, Ukraine is training up to help themselves.

NATO has tolerated insults to their bottom line, and Russia now thinks that threatening Western air bases is the way to go. They need to be very, very careful. The Russians always talk as if there would be no response, like they could just do it like some bully on the block. Whatever info Trump stole and sold to the Russians has undoubtedly been greatly changed. NATO is more than capable of wiping the floor with Russia. What a shame. I hate to say it, but this kind of talk would only encourage me to send even more planes, maybe add in A10s, millions more shells and missiles. Russia needs to find an exit point that doesn't include any Ukrainian land or assets. It would be so easy. Just declare yourself the winner, and withdraw. The Russian people apparently don't know anything different, anyway.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

6. The murderous little Poot denied he would attack Ukraine, right up until he did.

[skypilot]

7. A distinction without a difference.

*

[pecosbob]

8. Do it and your ass is grass.

Last edited Thu Mar 28, 2024, 06:17 PM - Edit history (1)

You're only a pale shadow of Stalin.

Amateurs talk about tactics...professionals talk about logistics. We wrote the book on military logistics. You on the other hand can't even keep tires on the few trucks you have.

[Emrys]

9. Ravings indeed.

Maybe Vlad should have a go at reining in his Court propagandists, including the head of Russia Today, who have been fantasizing about bloodthirsty conquest, empire-building and havoc, even revenge for some imagined historic slights, on Russia's airwaves for the last few years.

All catalogued on a daily basis here: https://twitter.com/JuliaDavisNews

As for any attacks by Russia on "legitimate targets" hosting any aircraft or other resources in Western air bases or elsewhere on NATO soil, he can argue about that legitimacy from the smoking ruins of his empire shortly after he tries it.

[ananda]

10. Bring it on! You'll be toast fast!

!!!

[hueymahl]

21. Yeah!

More war! Let's goad him into attacking so we can show how tough we are. Who cares about all the collateral damage! one death is a tragedy. A million is just a statistic. Go 'Merica!

[LudwigPastorius]

24. In case you haven't noticed, he doesn't need to be provoked. He is an evil war criminal with a lust for other people's

sovereign territory.

I hardly see how it is "goading" to give him a gentle reminder that attacking a NATO country means his personal annihilation, and the annihilation of all of Russia.

[blue-wave]

11. Ummm, news flash Vladdy boy

That would start a war with NATO, you stupid butcher.

[paleotn]

12. Which amounts to starting a war with NATO.

[LPBBEAR]

14. Sounding more and more

like Saddam every day.

[Javaman]

16. just like his nuke threat. bullshit and bluster.

he knows if he attacked one of those bases, he would be in a world of shit. he wouldn't last a week.

[TomSlick]

17. It's probably an idle threat but maybe not.

Putin means to attack NATO countries if he defeats Ukraine. He must defeat Ukraine in order to move on to the next step. F-16's in NATO countries endanger Putin's plans for restoring the Soviet empire.

If Putin calculates that the mutual defense provision of the NATO treaty is a hollow threat, he may follow through on the threat in order to conquer Ukraine. After all, he plans to attack NATO countries at some point anyway.

[niyad]

18. Somebody please finish him already.

[Wonder Why]

19. Then, again, so would bases and depots hosting Iranian drones and N Korean ammo.

[617Blue]

20. Pooty Poot and his Paper Tiger Army.

[hueymahl]

22. The responses on this thread are sickening

Variations of "bring it on" and "my dick is bigger than yours"

This is very serious and should be taken that way. I am very concerned about our policy and disregard for the ratcheting up of tensions between nuclear powers. You should be too.

[EX500rider]

23. " I am very concerned about our policy " What policy?

Helping Ukraine defend itself?
Strengthening NATO?

Putin is the one making threats, including nuclear ones.

[XorXor]

26. You should be concerned about Russia's policies. This is their doing.

I would be concerned about our policies if we simply ignored Russia's actions and did not support Ukraine. That would be a surefire way to rapidly move toward a wider war in which Russia attacks a NATO country because it feels the west is unwilling to step up. That is when we'd be at most risk for a large scale (possibly nuclear) war between NATO and Russia.

We can look to how things played out in Ukraine to validate these claims. Imagine if the Obama and later Trump admins gave Ukraine the same amount of support we've been giving them post 2022, but they started it back in 2014. There would not have been a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. You might say something like "but that would have provoked Russia to launch a full-scale invasion!!!" I don't know about that. Although, one thing that we know for sure is that not giving massive military aid led to Russia's invasion.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

27. We're ratcheting up the tensions?

Really? That's what you're going to go with?
What policy do we have for ratcheting up the tensions?
Did you forget who started this war?
Did you forget who is constantly threatening nuclear strikes?
Are you reading from the Trump/Putin/Repub playbook?
Sure seems like it

[ck4829]

28. Taking it seriously means Putin is regarded as a terrorist and Russia as a state sponsor of terror

So yes, let's take it seriously.

And, please, no deflections.

And Putin is the fifth gunman

[XorXor]

25. It also seems unlikely that he would risk a war with NATO over some F-16s

This is a futile attempt by Russia to limit support. It's no different than all their other threats.