President Trump delivered a stark message to Vladimir Putin on Monday, responding to the Russian leader’s boast about testing a so-called “invincible” nuclear missile. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One before departing for Japan, Trump declared, “They know we have a nuclear submarine, the greatest in the world, right off their shore.”
Putin had proudly announced over the weekend that Russia had completed a successful 8,700-mile, 15-hour test flight of its latest nuclear-powered missile—a weapon Moscow has dubbed a “flying Chernobyl” for its unlimited range and potential to strike anywhere, including the United States.
Trump made clear that he viewed Putin’s remarks as reckless and provocative. “They’re not playing games with us. We’re not playing games with them either,” he said, emphasizing his demand that Russia immediately bring its war in Ukraine to a close.
“I don’t think it’s an appropriate thing for Putin to be saying. By the way, he ought to get the war ended. A war that should have taken one week is now in its, soon, fourth year. That’s what he ought to do instead of testing missiles,” Trump added, criticizing the Kremlin’s fixation on weapons demonstrations while the conflict continues to devastate Ukraine.
As tensions mount, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has renewed his pleas for Washington to send long-range missiles, arguing that only greater military pressure can compel Moscow to negotiate peace.
Zelensky welcomed Trump’s new round of sanctions on Russia, expressing hope that the measures would have a real impact. “President Trump is concerned about escalation. But I think that if there are no negotiations, there will be an escalation anyway. I think that if Putin doesn’t stop, we need something to stop him. Sanctions is one such weapon, but we also need long-range missiles,” he told Axios on Sunday.
{Matzav.com}
