In a fresh exchange of words between Washington and Moscow, US President Donald Trump on Monday brushed off reports of Russia successfully testing a nuclear-powered cruise missile, asserting that the United States already possesses advanced nuclear capabilities near Russian territory.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump remarked, “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.” He added that both nations routinely test missiles but emphasised that the U.S. is not “playing games.”
Trump’s comments came a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his annual address to the Federal Assembly, announced that Moscow had developed a small-sized nuclear power unit capable of powering a cruise missile with an almost limitless range. Putin described it as a low-flying missile with an unpredictable trajectory, making it difficult to intercept.
According to Russian officials, the missile, named Burevestnik, had successfully undergone a test flight, reportedly staying airborne for around 15 hours and covering nearly 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles). Russian media claimed the weapon could outmaneuver missile defence systems and strike distant targets with precision.
The Russian president also linked the missile’s development to the U.S. withdrawal from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty in 2001, saying Moscow began research soon after Washington’s exit. He claimed that the Burevestnik has “no analogues in the world” and represents a new era of strategic deterrence.
Trump, however, brushed aside such assertions, saying the U.S. conducts its own tests “all the time.” He criticised Putin’s remarks, calling them “inappropriate,” and shifted focus to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, urging Moscow to prioritise peace over weapon development. “He ought to get the war ended — a war that should have taken one week is now in its fourth year,” Trump said.
The exchange comes amid mounting tensions between the two powers. The White House last week announced new sanctions on Russia, targeting oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil, along with dozens of subsidiaries. Meanwhile, the European Union also approved its 19th package of sanctions against Moscow, reflecting the deepening international isolation of the Kremlin.
