Trump Urges Putin to End Ukraine War, Not Test Nuclear Missiles

US President Donald Trump has called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to focus on ending the war in Ukraine rather than testing nuclear-capable weapons, warning that the United States maintains powerful deterrents, including a nuclear submarine stationed near Russia’s coast.

Trump’s comments came late Sunday while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, following Moscow’s announcement that it had successfully tested its nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile — known to NATO as the SSC-X-9 Skyfall. The Kremlin claimed the missile flew more than 14,000 kilometres, a range that would allow it to strike any point on the planet.

“They know we have a nuclear submarine, the greatest in the world, right off their shores, so I mean, it doesn’t have to go 8,000 miles,” Trump said, according to an audio file released by the White House.

The remarks came hours after Putin hailed the test as a breakthrough in Russia’s nuclear deterrence capabilities, declaring that deployment preparations were underway. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later downplayed the geopolitical impact of the test, saying Russia was acting “in accordance with its national interests” and that the launch should not strain relations with Washington.

Trump, however, dismissed the test as provocative and unnecessary, urging Putin to prioritise peace in Ukraine. “You ought to get the war ended — the war that should have taken one week is now in its fourth year,” he said. “That’s what you ought to do instead of testing missiles.”

The Burevestnik, first unveiled by Putin in 2018, is designed to carry a nuclear warhead and reportedly features an onboard nuclear reactor that allows it to remain airborne for extended periods. Moscow has long described the system as a response to the US decision to withdraw from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2001 and expand NATO’s missile defences.

Trump has repeatedly vowed to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, which has become Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. However, he acknowledged that negotiating peace has proven more difficult than other international crises, including the Gaza conflict and tensions between India and Pakistan.

“They’re not playing games with us, and we’re not playing games with them either,” Trump added. “We test missiles all the time.”

According to a Reuters report published last week, the Trump administration has prepared new economic sanctions targeting key sectors of Russia’s economy should Putin continue to delay peace efforts. When asked if additional sanctions were imminent, Trump said only, “You’ll find out.”