Western air bases that host Ukraine's F-16s are 'legitimate' targets for Russia, says Putin

• Putin said Western air bases hosting F-16 fighter jets will be "legitimate" targets.

• However, he also claimed F-16s "won't change the situation on the battlefield."

• Putin's comments show how he could escalate the conflict, said a Swedish defense official.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Western air bases hosting F-16 fighter jets for Ukraine will be "legitimate" targets for the Kremlin's forces, according to The Associated Press.

"F-16s are capable of carrying nuclear weapons, and we will also need to take that into account while organizing our combat operations," he said.

F-16s, which are built by Lockheed Martin, are "a compact, multi-role fighter aircraft," according to the US Air Force's website. They cost about $63 million and hit speeds of up to 1,500 mph.

Ukraine is waiting on the delivery of F-16s from allies to help it fight Russia's invasion. It has long argued that it needs fighter jets to effectively combat Russian forces and has pushed allies to deliver the F-16s as soon as possible.

Ukrainian pilots have been training on them in allied countries for months.

The AP noted that Western air bases may be used by Ukraine when it gets the jets, because they require high-standard runways and also protective hangars.

The AP said it's not clear how many air bases Ukraine has that would fit these standards, and Russia would likely prioritize destroying any that do.

Putin on his visit also insisted the F-16s "won't change the situation on the battlefield."

"We will destroy their warplanes just as we destroy their tanks, armored vehicles and other equipment, including multiple rocket launchers," he said.

He dismissed Western warnings that Russia may attack elsewhere in Europe.

"Their statements about our alleged intention to attack Europe after Ukraine is sheer nonsense," he said.

He said the US's defense budget is 10 times higher than that of Russia: "In view of that, are we going to wage a war against NATO? It's ravings."

A host of European countries have warned that their intelligence indicates Russia may attack another country in the continent in the next few years.

That is likely to spill into a wider conflict, as most European countries are in NATO and the alliance's collective defense agreements mean that an attack on one nation is considered an attack on all.

A Swedish defense official said on Thursday that Putin's new comments show how he could escalate the conflict.

"If Putin wants a war with NATO, that's how you start it. Then it will be a third world war," Swedish Lieutenant Colonel Joakim Paasikivi said, according to Euractiv.

Multiple NATO members have pledged F-16s for Ukraine. Much about the plans for them is being kept secret, but Lithuania's defense minister said last month that he thinks the first ones will arrive in June.

Russia has a far superior air force to Ukraine, but Ukraine has been able to deny Russia from entering its air space through its use of air defense systems. It has also shot down a slew of Russian aircraft throughout the conflict.

But Ukraine is warning that its air defense munitions are running out, particularly with further aid from the US blocked by House Republicans.

Air warfare experts previously told Business Insider that with Ukraine short on air defenses, Russia's air force could start to fly freely, causing such devastation that it could essentially end the war.

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