US President Donald Trump has termed Russia’s recent test of its nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile “inappropriate” and urged President Vladimir Putin to focus instead on ending the ongoing conflict
in Ukraine.
During an interaction with reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump boasted about America’s nuclear strength, referring to the country’s advanced submarine capabilities.
“They know we have a nuclear submarine, the greatest in the world, right off their shores. So, I mean, it doesn’t have to go 8,000 miles. And they’re not playing games with us. We’re not playing games with them either. We test missiles all the time,” Trump said.
He added, “I don’t think it’s an appropriate thing for Putin to be saying either. By the way, he ought to get the war ended. A war that should have taken one week is now in its fourth year. That’s what he ought to do instead of testing missiles.”
Trump’s remarks came after Putin, in his address to the Federal Assembly, announced that Moscow had developed a compact nuclear power unit capable of extending a missile’s range almost indefinitely. According to Russian state agency TASS, Putin claimed the Burevestnik missile had “no analogues in the world,” adding that Russia had successfully tested the weapon and planned to deploy it.
Russian officials said the missile remained airborne for around 15 hours and covered roughly 14,000 kilometres.
Meanwhile, Putin has also approved legislation terminating the now-defunct plutonium disposal agreement with the United States, which was aimed at limiting the production of nuclear weapons-grade material. The lower house of parliament passed the bill earlier this month, followed by the Federation Council’s approval last week.
Originally signed in September 2000, the agreement required both nations to dispose of 34 tons of weapons-grade plutonium that was no longer needed for military use.
