Putin Orders Nuclear Missile Tests Amidst US Summit Postponement

In a notable display of military readiness, Russian President Vladimir Putin has initiated comprehensive drills involving the nation’s strategic nuclear forces. The exercises feature test launches of ICBMs and strategic bombers, occurring just as a scheduled meeting with US President Donald Trump in Budapest concerning Ukraine has been put on hold. The Kremlin insists these drills were part of a pre-arranged training schedule designed to validate command procedures for nuclear assets. Key components of Russia’s nuclear triad were reportedly engaged, with a successful Yars ICBM launch from Plesetsk and a Sineva ICBM simulated launch from a Barents Sea submarine. Long-range cruise missiles were also fired by Tu-95 strategic bombers as part of the extensive maneuvers. General Valery Gerasimov briefed President Putin via video link, explaining that the drills aimed to rehearse the authorization process for nuclear weapon deployment. This timing, though officially coincidental, follows US President Trump’s announcement that the Budapest summit was postponed, as he expressed concerns about the meeting becoming a ‘waste of time.’ The postponement was linked to diplomatic exchanges, including talks between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, wherein Russia’s opposition to an immediate Ukrainian ceasefire was highlighted. Kremlin officials, through spokesman Dmitry Peskov, indicated that both leaders prioritize productive engagements, necessitating adequate preparation for any future summit.