Countries that host US F-16 jets for Ukraine are targets, say Vladimir Putin

Russian president says talk of attack on Nato is ‘sheer nonsense’ but air bases are a threat

Russian president Vladimir Putin on his visit to the 344th State Centre for combat use and retraining of flight crews of the Russian Defence Ministry in the town of Torzhok in the Tver Region, Russia, yesterday. Photo: Sputnik

Illia Novikov and Barry Hatton

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 US-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, referring to warnings in the US and Western Europe that Russia could turn its sights on other countries unless it is stopped.