Russia's claim that Ukraine could get nuclear-capable F-16s is baseless fearmongering, expert says

• Russia made the bizarre claim that F-16s being given to Ukraine could be fitted with nuclear weapons.
• One expert told Insider the claim was "misinformation" to create public concern or fear.
• Ukraine has no nuclear weapons, and the F-16s it may get won't have that capacity anyway, he said.

Russia's foreign minister said that US-made F-16 fighter jets sent to Ukraine could be used to carry nuclear weapons, despite the fact that there are no signs Ukraine would be given such weapons, and that Russia has been the one repeatedly threatening nuclear action.

Sergei Lavrov said at a military base on Monday that "We must keep in mind that one version of the F-16 can carry nuclear weapons," according to a transcript of his speech posted by Russia's foreign ministry.

"If they do not understand this, they are worthless military strategists and planners," he said, although it is unclear if he was referring to Ukraine or its Western allies.

While F-16 jets can be made to carry nuclear weapons, Ukraine does not have any nuclear weapons in its arsenal.

Ukraine gave the nuclear weapons it had on its territory back to Russia in exchange for security guarantees as part of an agreement to end the Soviet Union. And none of Ukraine's allies who have given it weapons and military training since Russia's invasion in February 2022 have suggested they will give Ukraine nuclear weapons.

The US said last month that it will allow other allies to send their jets, though no countries have actually committed to sending Ukraine F-16s yet.

The US has also joined multiple European countries in committing to helping train Ukraine pilots.

On Tuesday, White House spokesman John Kirby said that he wouldn't discuss the nuclear capabilities of the jets, but said President Joe Biden has repeatedly stated that he doesn't want to see the war escalate or any nuclear weapons used, Reuters reported.

"The purpose of providing advanced fighter aircraft is to help Ukraine defend itself, defend its airspace and its territorial integrity period," Kirby said.

He also directed a comment at Lavrov, saying: "If you're worried about Ukrainian military capabilities, then you should take your troops and leave Ukraine."

Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, said Lavrov's comments were misinformation, perhaps even disinformation.

"It's misinformation because he's saying things that are not real and using it in a way to, I assume, create public concern or fearmongering about Western intentions," he told Insider.

Kristensen said Lavrov was using the nominal capability of the F-16 aircraft to say that the ones that might be sent to Ukraine could also be converted to nuclear, but "that's not the case."

"The F-16s that Ukraine is going to get — if and when it gets them — they're not from the units that have the nuclear mission," he said.

Kristensen added: "There's no way at all that any nuclear state in the West would give nuclear weapons, or nuclear weapons capability, to Ukraine. It's completely out of the question."

Meanwhile, since launching its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has repeatedly threatened to use nuclear weapons, with comments coming from officials including President Vladimir Putin and former President Dmitry Medvedev.

The tone and frequency of those comments have cooled in recent months, however.

Russia is also moving nuclear weapons into Belarus, its allied neighbor, which borders Ukraine.

Lavrov said on Monday that "We are peaceful people. The only thing we want is to be left alone."

Despite Russia launching the invasion of Ukraine, he added that "Europe has chosen the path of war with us."