Trump Warns Putin About US Nuclear Capabilities Following Russia's Cruise Missile Test

Donald Trump emphasized the United States' nuclear capabilities, specifically mentioning their nuclear submarine technology in response to Russia's recent missile test.

Tokyo:

US President Donald Trump has described Russia's nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile test as "inappropriate" and urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to focus on resolving the Ukraine conflict instead.

Trump underscored America's nuclear prowess by referencing their advanced nuclear submarine positioned near Russian waters.

"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 stated during an exchange with reporters aboard Air Force One.

"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," he further remarked.

These comments follow Putin's address to Russia's Federal Assembly, where he announced Moscow's development of a small-sized nuclear power unit capable of being integrated into a cruise missile to provide virtually unlimited range. Putin described it as a low-flying missile with an unpredictable trajectory, according to TASS reports.

Putin claimed the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile has no equivalent anywhere in the world. He confirmed Moscow had successfully tested the weapon and would work toward its deployment. Russian officials assert the missile remained airborne for approximately 15 hours and traversed around 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles).

Additionally, Vladimir Putin has signed legislation terminating the defunct plutonium disposal agreement with the United States, which was originally designed to limit production of weapons-grade nuclear material, as reported by RT.

The bill received approval from the lower house of Parliament earlier this month, followed by consent from the Federation Council, Russia's upper chamber, last Wednesday. The legislation became effective on Monday after receiving Putin's approval.

The agreement, originally signed in September 2000, required both Russia and the United States to dispose of 34 tons of weapons-grade plutonium deemed no longer necessary for military purposes.