Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin, telling him to end the war in Ukraine rather than focus on testing nuclear weapons. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump emphasized that the United States already has “the greatest nuclear submarine in the world” stationed off Russia’s coast, implying that there was no need for Moscow to demonstrate its long-range missile capabilities.
“They know we have a nuclear submarine right off their shores, so our missiles don’t have to travel 8,000 miles,” Trump said. “Instead of testing missiles, the war that should have taken one week is now in its fourth year. That’s what ought to be resolved.”
Trump’s comments came in response to Putin’s announcement on Sunday that Russia had successfully tested its so-called “Flying Chernobyl” nuclear-powered cruise missile, formally known as the SSC-X-9 Skyfall by NATO. According to Russian officials, the missile completed an 8,700-mile test flight and can reportedly evade any existing missile defense system. Moscow has hailed the weapon as “unstoppable” and capable of striking targets at unlimited range.
During a late-night visit to a war command post, Putin, dressed in military uniform, described the missile test as part of Russia’s broader nuclear war readiness. He claimed the flight of the Burevestnik missile demonstrated the technical ability to hit highly protected targets at any distance while performing maneuvers designed to evade defense systems. The missile reportedly flew for 15 hours non-stop, far surpassing the two-minute flight of a previous test in 2022.
Putin also revealed that Russian forces had conducted nuclear war drills over the past week, underscoring the country’s ongoing focus on military modernization. “The modernity of our nuclear deterrent forces is at the highest level. It would probably be no exaggeration to say it is higher than all nuclear states,” he said, adding that the missile’s reactor emits radioactive exhaust, which has earned it the nickname “Flying Chernobyl.”
The announcement coincided with a deadly attack on Kyiv, where Russian missiles struck residential blocks, killing at least three civilians, including children, and injuring nearly 30 others. Despite global calls for peace, Putin has not indicated any intention of ending the war in Ukraine, which is now entering its fourth year.
In response to Trump’s warning, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated Russia’s commitment to its national interests. “Despite all our openness to establishing a dialogue with the United States, Russia is guided first of all by its own national interests. That’s how it was, that’s how it is, and that’s how it’s going to be,” Peskov said. He framed the development of new weapons as a necessary measure for Russia’s security, while downplaying any impact on U.S.-Russia relations.
Trump, who has previously suggested moving U.S. nuclear submarines closer to Russian shores, stressed that the United States regularly tests missiles and is serious about deterrence. “They’re not playing games with us, and we’re not playing games with them either,” he said.
The escalating rhetoric comes at a time of heightened tension between two nuclear-armed powers, as Moscow continues to advance its military operations in Ukraine and test cutting-edge weapons designed to challenge Western defenses. While the Burevestnik missile is not yet ready for combat use, the test marks a significant demonstration of Russia’s ambition to project strategic power and send a message to the West.
