Russia's supersonic bomber jets fly near NATO; Western bloc panics: Trump deal emboldens Putin?

Moscow conducted a major aerial patrol over the Baltic Sea on November 27, deploying Tu-22M3 supersonic bombers armed with Kh-32 cruise missiles alongside Su-35 and Su-27 escort fighters, in what was described as a coordinated long-range strike rehearsal. The bombers took off from the recently reactivated Olenya base on the Kola Peninsula, highlighting Russia’s efforts to strengthen its strategic aviation capabilities. The Kh-32 missiles carried by the aircraft have an estimated range of up to 1,000 kilometers, allowing Russia to project power against high-value naval or land targets from a distance. Swedish quick reaction alert fighters tracked the formation, while NATO monitored the mission as part of routine air policing. Earlier, a Tu-160 nuclear-capable bomber patrolled the Arctic Ocean, signaling Moscow’s broader strategic posture in the High North. This comes as the U.S. drafts a controversial peace plan for Ukraine reportedly in coordination with Russia, prompting the EU to propose a counterplan while rearming Kyiv for continued defense.