Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on October 27 while traveling from Kuala Lumpur to Japan, Trump said, “They know we have nuclear submarines — the best in the world — right off their shores. So we don’t need anything with a 14,000 km range.” The U.S. President added, “Russia doesn’t joke with America, and we don’t joke with them either,” calling the Kremlin’s announcement of completing tests of the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine “inappropriate.”
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that the test of the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile should not further strain Russia–U.S. relations.
“There is nothing in this event that could or should worsen relations between Moscow and Washington, especially since ties are already at their lowest point,” Peskov said. He stressed that the development of advanced weapons systems, including the Burevestnik missile, is driven by Russia’s national interests and aimed at strengthening the country’s security.
On October 26, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow had completed its final test of the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile, a weapon believed to have virtually unlimited range.
According to Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov, the missile flew for 15 hours and covered a distance of 14,000 kilometers during the October 21 test, performing both vertical and horizontal maneuvers that demonstrated its ability to evade enemy air defenses and missile shields.
The test marks a significant step forward in Russia’s strategic deterrence capabilities, but it also raises global concerns about a potential new escalation in the nuclear arms race.