© Contributor / Getty Images
– Vladimir Putin maintains pressure on Ukraine and the West.
Vladimir Poutine never stops shaking the nuclear threat. Since the start of the war led by Russia in Ukraine, the Russian president has mentioned the use of atomic weapons 110 times. Tuesday November 19, 2024, the leader went even further by signing a decree which expands the conditions of use of nuclear weapons. One more step before its use or a response to the authorization granted by the United States to Ukraine so that the attacked country can use American long-range missiles on Russian soil?
Questioned by La Dépêche, Guillaume Ancel, former officer and war chronicler, wants to be reassuring. “The credibility of these threats is absolutely zero”he assures. According to him, we must see this new outing by Vladimir Putin much more as a reaffirmation that the leader has this «carte» in his game. In addition, the former officer reports that the American secret services have not heard of any movement on the ground suggesting that Vladimir Putin could, in the near future, use nuclear weapons.
War in Ukraine: Putin warns the West, an empty threat?
“An extremely serious event”
Another argument suggesting that the Russian president will not carry out his threats: the dimension that an atomic bomb attack would represent. “We would no longer be in a conflict in Ukraine. We would be in an existential conflict, and all of NATO would be forced to react”estimates Guillaume Ancel. Which makes him say that in the event of Vladimir Putin taking action “lose the war”.
If the Russian president does not give in and does not use this option, that does not prevent him fromincrease the pressure on Ukraine. Thursday November 21, 2024, the Ukrainian authorities assured that Russia had fired an intercontinental missile on its territory. A first since the start of the war. The news did not fail to provoke a reaction. Christophe Lemoine, spokesperson for the French foreign ministry, said he “It is obvious that, if this shot were confirmed, it would be an extremely serious event and it would above all be a continuation of Russia’s escalatory attitude”. The information has since been confirmed by the British authorities.
Vladimir Putin: his ex-wife's villa, located in the south of France, seized by the courts
Vladimir Putin threatens the West
In a speech given on Russian television, Vladimir Putin also assured that he had ordered the use of an intercontinental missile in Ukraine. Furthermore, the Russian president renewed his menaces towards the West. “We consider ourselves within our rights to use our weapons against the military installations of countries that authorize the use of their weapons against our installations”he indicated. And to conclude: “In the event of an escalation of aggressive actions, we will respond equally strongly.”
