Ukraine news latest — Putin plotting ‘dangerous escalation’ of war as West warned over Russia’s air-force capabilities

VLADIMIR PUTIN is plotting a “dangerous escalation” in the Ukraine war as the West have been warned over Russia’s air-force capabilities. Analyst professor Michael Clarke claimed that when Russia “comes back for their big spring offensive…they will be much more effective in the air” and the battle for “air superiority” will become key to the direction of the war for Vladimir Putin. Michael Clarke said: “Escalation is built into this war and it is dangerous. This coming year, 2023, will be a lot more dangerous than 2022 was. “It is going to get worse, it is going to get more fierce and more dangerous, and we will keep crossing thresholds, as will the Russians. That is what the F-16 decision looks like. It is another threshold that must be crossed.” Speaking to the Express.co.uk he added: “The Ukrainians cannot just rely on ground-based defences or dogfights with their [Soviet-designed] Mig-29s because they will start to lose them, however skillful their pilots may be, so they will need the F-16s.” Read our Ukraine war blog below for the latest news…