The delivery of F-16 fighters to Ukraine would raise the question of NATO’s involvement in the armed conflict, Russia’s ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, said via Telegram in the early hours of the morning.

“There is no infrastructure to operate F-16s in Ukraine, nor the required number of pilots and maintainers,” Mr. Antonov noted.

“What would happen if US fighters took off from NATO air bases, and foreign ‘volunteers’ were at the controls?”

On Friday, US President Joe Biden advocated the start of training programs for Ukrainian pilots and technicians for the type’s fighters. His Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky assured his counterpart that these aircraft will not operate in Russian airspace.

For his part, Mr. Antonov explained that any strike by such fighters against Crimea would be perceived in Moscow as an attack against Russian territory.

“It is important that the US is fully aware of the Russian response,” Mr. Antonov stressed.

Ukraine has increased its strikes especially in Crimea – which was annexed by Russia in 2014 – as well as in other areas recently.