Vladimir Putin vows to destroy NATO assets as he ramps up threats to Ukraine allies

Ukraine is expecting the delivery of a first batch of F-16s in the coming weeks. (Image: Getty)

Vladimir Putin ramped up his threats to NATO vowing Russia will disintegrate any advanced planes sent to Ukraine despite claiming he had no plans of attacking members of the alliance.

The United States in August gave its allies permission to hand over the F-16s to Kyiv – boosting Ukraine's Air Force defence against the Soviet-era Sukhoi and MiG fighter planes Russia still employs.

Putin issued the threat less than 24 hours after Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba announced the aircraft is expected to arrive in his country soon.

Speaking during a visit to Torzhok to the 344th Army Aviation Centre, the Russian President was questioned on whether Russia could consider the F-16s sent by NATO members as a viable target.

Putin said: "Of course, if they are used from airfields of third countries, they become a legitimate target for us, no matter where they are.

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Putin said his troops would target the fighter jets wherever they are. (Image: Getty)

"We will destroy their planes in the same way that we destroy their tanks, armoured vehicles, and other equipment, including multiple launch rocket systems."

The Russian leader added: "The F-16s are also carriers of nuclear weapons, and we will also have to take this into account when organising combat work."

Putin, however, claimed the deployment of the F16s would not help Ukraine overturn the situation on the battlefield.

In addition to the United States, 14 NATO members said they would send the advanced planes to Ukraine and would help train local pilots.

Ukraine Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said late last year that six advanced pilots had already been flying the aircraft after undergoing training in Denmark.

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Ukrainian pilots have been undergoing training in the UK and Denmark over the past few months. (Image: Getty)

Ihnat said another group had been deployed to the UK for training and would likely not be ready to fly until 2025.

NATO members have expressed growing concern about a possible direct confrontation with Russia after repeated hints from Putin.

On March 17, the Russian leader insisted that "anything is possible in today's world" only to say Moscow would not engage Ukraine's allies full-on.

During the visit to Torzhok, he added: "It's complete nonsense the possibility of an attack on some other countries, on Poland, the Baltic states, and elsewhere."