Russia has carried out tests of its Burevestnik nuclear-powered unlimited-range cruise missile, which Russian President Vladimir Putin called a “unique weapon that no other country possesses.”
Putin said the “decisive tests” for the missile have been completed, although he added that “substantial work has to be done in order to place this weapon on combat duty, and all regulations must be completed.”
Russia’s Chief of the General Staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, explained that the weapon’s “technical characteristics generally allow for its use with assured accuracy against highly protected targets at any range.” During testing, he described, the missile “completed all prescribed vertical and horizontal maneuvers, showcasing a high capability to evade missile-defense and air-defense systems.”
President Trump responded to the missile claims on Monday morning. Trump was asked, “Russia said this week that they’ve tested a new missile that can go more than 8,000 miles. Is that been saber rattling for you?”
The president explained that Russia knows the United States has a “nuclear submarine the greatest in the world right off their shore.”
“So I mean it doesn’t have to go 8,000 miles. They’re not playing games with us, and we’re not playing games with them either,” he said. “We test missiles all the time. But, you know, we do have a submarine, a nuclear submarine. We don’t need to go 8,000 miles. And I don’t think it’s an appropriate thing for Putin to be saying either, by the way. You ought to get the war ended. A war that should have taken one week is now in its soon fourth year. That’s what you ought to do instead of testing missiles.”
“I don’t think it’s an appropriate thing for Putin to be saying, by the way,” he added.
