The Russians have already destroyed the only F-16 viable air base in West Ukraine. To fly the F-16s against Russia they will have to take off from NATO bases. Without question those bases will be destroyed after the first sortie. The Russians can not make that fact any more categorically than they already have.
Ukraine would need a lot of anti-air protection for wherever they try to plant an F-16 fighter base.
In addition to a lot of shoulder and ground launch anti-air missiles all over Ukraine.
When Ukraine - for some reason - is no longer able to supply especially the shoulder-launched anti-air missiles in the quantity needed at the front.
“The Russians cannot make that fact any more categorically than they already have.”
Clearly so. If the Neocons want to their cities like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco and their people DESTROYED, only to later have them rebuilt like Hiroshima, then the Neocons can answer for that outcome.
(don’t ask, I’m not sure who’s side I’m on in that scenario)
” To fly the F-16s against Russia they will have to take off from NATO bases. Without question those bases will be destroyed after the first sortie. “
I think that is the plan. “Ukrainian” F-16s flying form NATO countries are to achieve the results that the “No Fly Zone” was proposed in 2022 - get NATO involved directly.