Lavrov called Denmark's transfer of the second batch of F-16s to Ukraine an attempt at escalation

Denmark's transfer of the second batch of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine provokes an escalation of the conflict around Kiev. This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on December 29.

"We have repeatedly warned that by providing massive military aid to Ukrainian Nazis, Denmark, its patrons and allies are provoking an escalation of the conflict, forcing Russia to take adequate measures to ensure the country's security, including military-technical measures," Lavrov said in a conversation with RIA Novosti.

He also added that any weapons that Western countries supply to the Kiev regime are a legitimate target for the Russian army and are successfully destroyed.

On December 7, Denmark transferred the second batch of F-16 fighter jets to Kiev.

Prior to that, on August 27, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (his term expired in May) first announced that the Ukrainian military was using the F-16s transferred to Kiev - allegedly to repel drone and missile strikes. One of the fighter jets soon crashed, and its pilot was killed.

In the first half of July, Denmark and the Netherlands began transferring F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. The arrival of the first planes in the country was reported at the end of the same month. According to The Economist, the Ukrainian army received 10 fighter jets.

Experts have repeatedly noted that the use of F-16s will not change the situation on the battlefield for the Ukrainian troops. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that these fighter jets would be destroyed and would not affect the dynamics of the situation on the front.

Western countries have stepped up military and financial support for Kiev against the background of Russia's special operation to protect Donbass, which was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022, after the situation in the region worsened due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.