On Monday, the President criticized Russia’s declaration of having tested a nuclear-powered missile capable of traveling over 8,000 miles, advising President Vladimir Putin to “bring the war to an end” instead.
While on Air Force One, Trump, who was then in Japan, was asked if he considered the missile test “saber-rattling.” He informed reporters that the U.S. possesses the “greatest” nuclear submarine globally, then proceeded to admonish Putin.
“They are aware that we have a nuclear submarine, the finest worldwide, stationed directly off their coast. Therefore, it doesn’t need to travel 8,000 miles. They are not engaging in trivialities with us, and we are not doing so with them,” . “We conduct missile tests regularly… we do not require an 8,000-mile range. Furthermore, I do not believe this is a suitable statement for Putin to make.”
“You should conclude the conflict,” Trump stated, appearing to speak directly to the Russian President. “The war that should have been over in a week is now in That is what your focus should be, rather than testing missiles.”
Subsequently, Trump was queried about his view on whether the E.U. should permit the utilization of frozen Russian central bank assets to support Ukraine’s defense initiatives.
Dismissing the inquiry, Trump responded: “You would need to consult the E.U. I am not participating in that matter.”
European leaders convened on Friday and regarding the deployment of the frozen Russian assets. This topic is slated for further deliberation at the of the European Council during December.
Trump’s statements followed Putin’s disclosure of details concerning the missile testing, which occurred on Oct. 21, during his visit to Russia’s Joint Force command post alongside Army Chief Valery Gerasimov on Sunday.
“This is truly an unparalleled weapon, exclusive to Russia,” he commented regarding the Burevestnik nuclear-powered missile, asserting its “unlimited” operational range.
Chief Gerasimov reported that during the tests, the missile remained airborne for 15 hours, covering distances up to 14,000km (8700 miles), adding that neither of these figures represented the full extent of Burevestnik’s potential.
“Throughout its flight, the missile executed all designated vertical and horizontal maneuvers, demonstrating a strong aptitude for evading missile-defense and air-defense systems,” .
Gerasimov further noted that Yars and Sineva intercontinental ballistic missiles, along with two Kh-102 air-launched cruise missiles, were also subjected to testing as part of Russia’s strategic nuclear force drills.
Following this, the Kremlin reportedly stated that the missile tests ought not to impact the relationship between the U.S. and Russia.
“Nothing about this action should or could exacerbate the already minimal relations between Moscow and Washington,” spokesperson Dmitry Peskov informed reporters on Monday, as reported by Russian state news .
The connection between Washington, D.C., and Moscow seems to be growing more tense, particularly after the U.S. against Russia last week, which focused on the nation’s two primary oil companies and their associated entities.
“I simply believed it was the opportune moment. We had waited for an extended period. My expectation was that we would proceed long before addressing the Middle East,” Trump from the Oval Office on Oct. 23.
“These measures intensify pressure on Russia’s energy industry and diminish the Kremlin’s capacity to generate funds for its military operations and bolster its struggling economy,” Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent further stated.
Maria Zakharova characterized the sanctions as “ineffective” and maintained that Russia had “cultivated robust resilience against Western limitations.”
When questioned on Monday morning about the possibility of the U.S. imposing additional sanctions on Russia, Trump responded: “You will discover.”
Last week, the European Union implemented following the U.S. sanctions, marking its 19th such package. These measures target Russia’s energy, military, and financial sectors, in addition to individuals thought to be implicated in the abduction of Ukrainian children.
Trump had been scheduled to meet Putin in Budapest, Hungary, subsequent to an extended with the Russian President on Oct. 16. However, this meeting has since been deferred, with no rescheduled date announced.
“It did not seem appropriate to me; I did not sense we were progressing toward the necessary outcome,” he from the Oval Office on Oct. 23.
August marked the first face-to-face encounter between Trump and Putin since 2019, as they convened for a . Nevertheless, they were unable to finalize an agreement during the meeting, which concluded sooner than anticipated.
