Deputy Zhuravlev called for considering that Ukraine has already received F-16s and ATACMS missiles
Russia should consider Ukraine a country that has already received F-16 fighters and ATACMS long-range cruise missiles from the West, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee Alexei Zhuravlev told NEWS.ru. According to him, both the F-16 and ATACMS will be transferred to Kyiv over time.
It is necessary to behave as if the Ukrainian Armed Forces already have long-range ATACMS missiles and modern F-16 fighters – to prepare both for repelling ATACMS and for air battles with American F-16s. In the case of ATACMS, whose range reaches 300 km, we should move the security zone to the same distance from the Russian borders. By the way, Kiev will definitely be included in it then – it’s a little more than 200 km away by road ,” Zhuravlev added.
Earlier, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, expressed the opinion that Kyiv was using American ATACMS missiles for terrorist purposes. The targets of destruction , Zakharova believes, will be the civilian infrastructure of Donbass and Crimea.
At the same time, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Alexey Danilov, assured that Kiev needs ATACMS to protect the country’s territories. Ukraine will not strike Russia with American missiles, Danilov emphasized.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon expressed its readiness to transfer tactical missiles equipped with cluster munitions to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. For a final decision, the department needs Biden’s consent, said Assistant Secretary of the US Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Douglas Bush.
Source : News.ru
