Kremlin Calls Sarmat Missile Test 'Major Event'

(MENAFN) Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday elevated the previous day's successful test launch of the Sarmat nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile to a watershed moment in Russia's national security, revealing that President Vladimir Putin himself had bestowed the achievement with the highest praise.

Speaking at a press briefing in Moscow, Peskov conveyed the Russian leader's personal endorsement of the launch, describing it as a landmark development for the entire nation.

"The president himself, the head of state, gave a very high assessment of this major achievement and this launch. Indeed, this is a very important event for the entire country and for the security of our country for many, many years ahead," he said.

Peskov confirmed that Russia adheres to international notification protocols for missile launches of this nature, stressing that all such tests are conducted in full compliance with established global practice.

"Of course, all such launches are carried out with notification. A special notification system operates in strict compliance with existing international practice," he said.

Moscow had yet to receive any official response from Washington regarding the Sarmat test, Peskov added when pressed on the matter.

On the prospect of full-scale peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, the Kremlin spokesman set out an unambiguous precondition — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy must order his forces to stand down and withdraw from Russian-claimed territory.

"Zelenskyy must give the order to Ukraine's armed forces to cease fire and leave the territory of Donbas and the territory of Russian regions," he said.

"At that moment, a ceasefire will begin, and the sides will calmly be able to engage in negotiations, which, by the way, will inevitably be very difficult and will contain a large number of important details," he stressed.

Turning to energy diplomacy, Peskov addressed questions over potential U.S.-Russian cooperation on the Nord Stream gas pipelines, should American interests acquire the European stake in the infrastructure. He indicated that the two powers held the capacity to collaborate across a broad spectrum of mutually beneficial economic ventures — contingent on a thaw in bilateral relations.

"As the American side becomes ready not to tie the prospects for normalizing trade and economic relations to the Ukrainian settlement, or as the Ukrainian settlement is achieved, we hope the path toward implementing a number of economic projects will open," Peskov said.

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