(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump addressed Russia’s announcement of a successful test of its nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, emphasizing that “Washington and Moscow are not playing games” with nuclear deterrence.

Speaking aboard Air Force One on Monday, Trump dismissed the idea that the Russian test was mere saber-rattling, stating:
“They are not playing games with us. We are not playing games with them either. We test missiles all the time.”

The Russian Defense Ministry reported on Sunday that the Burevestnik, capable of virtually unlimited range, had completed a key flight test. The report was delivered to President Vladimir Putin by Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov.

Trump referenced his decision to move two US nuclear submarines closer to Russian waters, highlighting that the missile’s flight reportedly covered 8,000 miles, a distance the US does not need to match. He criticized the test as “not appropriate”, adding:
“A war that should have taken one week is now in its soon fourth year. That’s what [Putin] ought to do instead of testing missiles.”

The Burevestnik, powered by a miniature nuclear reactor, is designed to stay airborne for extended periods—potentially months—and strike from unpredictable directions, aiming to enhance Russia’s strategic deterrent. Russian officials said the latest trial included maneuvers to test the missile’s ability to evade interception.

Compared to traditional intercontinental ballistic missiles, the Burevestnik is smaller and cheaper while offering similar strategic capabilities.

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