War in Ukraine: Putin on board a nuclear bomber, Russian plane shot down, meeting in Paris… update on the situation

Vladimir Poutine avant de monter dans l'avion ce 22 février 2024. MAXPPP – ALEXANDER KAZAKOV/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL

Tous les jours, Midi Libre fait le point sur la situation en Ukraine. Ce jeudi 22 février 2024, découvrez les dernières actualités autour de ce conflit.

Poutine vole à bord d'un bombardier nucléaire russe

Vladimir Putin flew this Thursday aboard a modernized TU-160M ​​nuclear strategic bomber, supposed to strengthen the Russian deterrent force in a period of conflicting relations with the West.

The Russian president visited an aircraft factory in Kazan, central Russia, from where he took off aboard the bomber for a flight of # About thirty minutes filmed by televisions. He subsequently praised the reliability of the device, deeming it suitable for integration into the Air Force. "It's a new machine, there are a lot of new features. It's easier to control", commented the Russian president, who is also the commander-in-chief of the armies.

The aircraft, which has variable geometry wings and has four crew members, can carry 12 cruise missiles or 12 short-range nuclear missiles and travel 12,000 km without refueling. This is a modernized version of the Tupolev 160 M – "blackjack" according to the code of the&# 39;NATO – which the Soviet Union was ready to deploy in the event of a nuclear alert during the Cold War to strike over long distances.

Under a contract signed in 2018, ten modernized aircraft are to be delivered to the Russian Air Force by 2027, at a unit cost of 15 billion rubles (150 million euros). Relations between Moscow and the West have deteriorated considerably since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine two years ago and important negotiations between Russians and Americans on arms control have stalled.< /p>

Russian nuclear doctrine provides for the use of nuclear weapons if the country is attacked with a nuclear weapon or mass destruction or if the country is attacked with a nuclear weapon or mass destruction weapon. #39;use of conventional weapons "threatens the very existence of the Russian state".

Last October, Vladimir Putin assured, however, that the existence of the Russian state was not in danger and that no sane person would be in danger. #39;would consider using nuclear weapons against Russia. Former Prime Minister and President Dmitry Medvedev, who has repeatedly threatened a nuclear apocalypse in Ukraine since the start of the conflict, promised Thursday that Russian forces would continue to gain territory in Ukraine. the former Soviet republic. "Where should we stop ? I don't know", vice chairman of the national security council told media Russians. "It will probably be kyiv. If not now, then after some time, perhaps in another phase of this conflict."

Dmitri Medvedev also wanted Russia to seize the port of Odessa, on the Black Sea. "This is our city, it's a Russian city", he said.

kyiv claims to have destroyed a Su-34 fighter bomber

This Wednesday, February 21, 2024, the commander of the Ukrainian Air Force affirmed that his troops destroyed a Russian plane, a Su-34 fighter-bomber to be precise.

This is the seventh aircraft neutralized in just a few days. "The Su-34 crew joins our section 'Eternal flight, brothers!'. We will eat the Russian bear in small pieces. Together until victory", declared the Ukrainian soldier, quoted by Géo. This announcement was made by Volodymyr Zelensky's army via a press release broadcast on a Telegram channel.

In less than a week, four other Su-34 fighter-bombers but also two Su-35s were targeted and completely neutralized by the army of the Ukrainian Air Force, reported Forbes.

Meeting on Ukraine chaired by Macron on Monday in Paris

French President Emmanuel Macron will receive several heads of state and government, or their ministerial representatives, in Paris on Monday February 26 for a meeting in support of Ukraine, announced Thursday the Elysée.

"Two years after the start of the Russian invasion", this working meeting will allow& #39;"study the means available to strengthen partner cooperation in support of Ukraine", indicated the French presidency .