WASHINGTON/MOSCOW, March 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States is sending six US Navy radar-jamming aircraft to Germany to enhance NATO capabilities, the Pentagon said.
The EA-18G Growler aircraft are “not being deployed to be used against Russian forces in Ukraine,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.
“They are being deployed completely in keeping with our efforts to bolster NATO’s deterrence and defense capabilities along that eastern flank.”
Kirby said the planes arrived at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany Monday from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington state.
He said the aircraft, a modified version of the F/A-18, specialize in electronic warfare, using sensors to confuse enemy radars and air defense systems.
The Pentagon spokesman said 240 navy personnel were to accompany the aircraft to Germany.
In a budget proposal released on Monday, the White House unveiled plans to spend $6.9 billion to help Ukraine fend off Russia’s invasion and support NATO member countries.
The United States has stepped up aid for Ukraine following the Russian invasion, including security assistance and humanitarian aid.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has pressed NATO countries to flood more weapons into Ukraine, including advanced fighter jets, missile defense systems, tanks, armored vehicles and anti-ship missiles.
The United States has thus far ruled out sending airplanes or other large weapons systems to Ukraine.
President Joe Biden has said he does not want to cross a line into what he says could become “World War III,” pitting nuclear-armed Russia against NATO.
Meanwhile, in MOSCOW, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said no one in Russia is considering the idea of using nuclear weapons.
Asked by the media whether Russian President Vladimir Putin had suggested in his earlier statement that he would use nuclear weapons if a third party got involved in the conflict in Ukraine and Peskov said ‘no.’
“I don’t think so. But he was quite bold in saying ‘do not interfere, if you do, we have all the possibilities to prevent that and to punish all those who are going to interfere,” he specified.
When asked if he could rule out the use of nuclear weapons in the conflict on behalf of Russia, the Kremlin spokesman said: “No one is thinking about using… even about the idea of using nuclear weapons.”. — NNN-AGENCIES
