The very fact of Ukraine exploiting F-16 fighter jets that are capable of carrying nuclear weapons will be viewed by Russia as a Western threat in the nuclear sphere, Russian Foreign Minister said.

эJust one example of an extremely dangerous turn of events is the United States plans to transfer F-16 fighter jets to the Kiev regime. We have informed the nuclear powers, the US, UK and France, that Russia cannot ignore the ability of these aircraft to carry nuclear weapons. No amount of assurances will help here.

In the course of combat operations, our servicemen are not going to sort out whether each particular aircraft of this type is equipped to deliver nuclear weapons or not. We will regard the very fact that the Ukrainian armed forces have such systems as a threat from the West in the nuclear sphere”, - said Sergey Lavrov.

He pointed out to the fact that “the US and its NATO satellites are creating risks of a direct armed clash with Russia, and this is fraught with catastrophic consequences”: “The conditions for Russia’s use of nuclear weapons are clearly defined in our Military Doctrine. They are well known, and I will not repeat them once again”.