Russia does not intend to attack any NATO country, but if the West offers warplanes F-16 in Ukraine these will be shot down by Russian forces, Russian President Vladimir Putin said late Wednesday.

Speaking to Russian air force pilots, Putin said NATO had expanded eastward into Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, but the Moscow has no plans to attack any Alliance country.

“We have no aggressive intentions towards these countries,” stressed the Russian president, according to today’s announcement by the Kremlin.

“The idea that we are going to attack some other country – Poland, the Baltic countries and the Czechs are afraid – is completely stupid. It’s just bullshit”he underlined.

The Kremlin, which accuses the US of waging war against Russia by supporting Ukraine with money, weapons and intelligence, notes that Moscow’s relations with Washington have probably never been worse.

Asked about the F-16 warplanes, which the West has pledged to send to Ukraine, Putin estimated that they would not change the situation in the war.

“If they offer F-16s, and they talk about it and they seem to be training pilots, that’s not going to change the situation on the ground,” write down.

“We will destroy these aircraft as today we destroy tanks, armored vehicles and other equipment including multiple rocket launchers,” he added.

Putin also stated that the F-16s can carry nuclear weapons.

“Of course, if they are used by airports of third countries, they become legitimate targets, wherever they are,” said the Russian president.

Earlier yesterday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Nmytro Kuleba said that F-16s are expected to arrive in Ukraine in the coming months.

Belgium, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands are among the countries that have pledged to offer F-16s to Kiev, while a coalition of countries has announced it will participate in training Ukrainian pilots to use them.