Zelensky's Request for 'Rapid Delivery of F-16 Fighters' to Ukraine; Putin Warns the West

Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, stated on Wednesday that strengthening his country's air defense and the 'rapid delivery of F-16 fighters' to Kyiv is essential in the fight against the Russian invasion. Zelensky said on social media, 'There is no logical explanation for why Patriots, which are abundant worldwide, are still not covering the skies of Kharkiv and other cities and areas under attack by Russian terrorists.' He added, 'We are working every day to better protect our people and Ukraine.' Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, said late Wednesday that Russia has no plans to attack any NATO countries and will not attack Poland, the Baltic states, or the Czech Republic, but if the West provides F-16 fighters to Ukraine, these aircraft will be shot down by Russian forces. Joe Biden, the President of the United States, previously stated that the U.S. would begin training Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s as part of a multinational effort to provide advanced jets to Ukraine. Zelensky mentioned last year in Denmark that the forthcoming delivery of U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets has reassured him that his country can end the Russian invasion. Mark Rutte, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, also stated last year during Zelensky's visit to his country that the Netherlands and Denmark would certainly provide F-16s to Ukraine once conditions allow. Rutte noted that the Netherlands has a total of 42 F-16s, but it is still too early to say whether all of them will be transferred to Ukraine. He said at a joint press conference with Zelensky at the military airbase in Eindhoven, 'We can announce that the Netherlands and Denmark are committed to transferring F-16 aircraft to the Ukrainian Air Force in cooperation with the United States and other partners.' The commitment from the Netherlands and Denmark is the first real promise following the U.S. agreement to their request for the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. Blinken is discussing 'Gaza and Ukraine' with the President of France. The death toll from the attack on a concert hall in the suburbs of Moscow has risen to 140. France: The attack on the concert hall in Moscow was carried out by ISIS, not Ukraine.