Kuala Lumpur [Malaysia], October 27 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Monday downplayed reports of Russia testing a nuclear-powered missile, emphasizing that the United States also has nuclear submarines operating close to Russian waters.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his address to the Federal Assembly on Sunday, announced that Moscow had developed a small-sized nuclear power unit capable of powering a cruise missile with an almost unlimited range. According to Putin, the missile would be low-flying with an unpredictable trajectory, Russian state media outlet TASS reported.
The development of the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile began after the United States withdrew from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty in December 2001. Putin claimed the missile has no equivalent worldwide, stating that it had been successfully tested and would soon be deployed. Russian officials asserted that the missile remained airborne for about 15 hours and covered approximately 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles).
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said, “They know we have a nuclear submarine, the greatest in the world, right off their shore. 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.”
He added, “I don’t think it’s an appropriate thing for Putin to be saying either, by the way.”
Referring to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Trump said, “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.”
Last week, the White House imposed sanctions on two of Russia’s largest oil companies—Rosneft and Lukoil—along with dozens of subsidiaries. The European Union also unanimously approved its 19th package of sanctions against Russia on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, after attending the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia, President Trump arrived in Tokyo on Monday afternoon for meetings with Emperor Naruhito and newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. (ANI)
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