United States President Donald Trump said Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin should focus on ending the war in Ukraine rather than showcasing new weapons, following Russia’s announcement of a successful test of a nuclear powered cruise missile.
His comments came after Moscow said the Burevestnik missile, known to NATO as Skyfall, had flown more than fourteen thousand kilometers. Russia has presented the system as a strategic response to expanded United States missile defense programs.
Trump spoke with reporters aboard Air Force One. He said the United States already has powerful nuclear capabilities near Russia and therefore does not need such long range weapons.
“They know we have a nuclear submarine, the greatest in the world, right off their shores,” Trump said, according to an audio clip released by the White House. “It does not have to go eight thousand miles.”
He added that Putin should prioritise ending the conflict in Ukraine, which he said has stretched into its fourth year. “You ought to get the war ended,” Trump said. “That is what you ought to do instead of testing missiles.”
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Responding, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia would continue developing its strategic arsenal in line with its security needs. “Russia and the president of Russia are guided by our own national interests,” Peskov told reporters. “That is how it was, that is how it is and that is how it will be.”
Peskov also said the missile program should not damage relations between Moscow and Washington and described the development as part of ensuring Russia’s security.
Russia first revealed the nuclear powered missile in 2018. The weapon is intended to evade missile defense systems that the Kremlin argues threaten global balance. Washington withdrew from the Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2001 and has since expanded cooperation within NATO.
Trump has often mentioned that the United States could move nuclear armed submarines close to Russia if needed. Such disclosures remain uncommon, since both countries usually keep submarine deployments secret.
“We test missiles all the time,” Trump said when asked about the Russian launch. “They are not playing games with us and we are not playing games with them either.”
Reuters reported last week that the Trump administration is preparing additional sanctions to pressure Russia to stop delaying peace talks over Ukraine. When asked whether more sanctions are coming, Trump replied, “You will find out.”
