Russia says successfully tested new nuclear-capable cruise missile

MOSCOW: Russia’s President Vladimir Putin announced Sunday a successful final test of a new nuclear-powered cruise missile, the Burevestnik, amid Moscow’s ongoing Ukraine offensive and uncertainty over a new summit with US leader Donald Trump.

“The decisive tests are now complete,” Putin said in a video released by the Kremlin during a meeting with military officials.

He ordered the preparation of “infrastructure to put this weapon into service in the Russian armed forces.”

Putin called the missile a “unique creation that no one else in the world possesses”, adding that the Burevestnik has “unlimited range”.

During the last test on October 21, the missile flew for some 15 hours, travelling 14,000 kilometres (8,700 miles), said Russia’s military chief of staff Valery Gerasimov, adding that this was not the upper limit for the weapon.

“The technical characteristics of the Burevestnik allow it to be used with guaranteed precision against highly protected sites located at any distance,” he said.

Putin announced the Russian military’s development of the missiles in 2018, which he said could evade all defence systems, against the backdrop of a perceived threat from the United States.

Seven years later, the announcement of a successful final test comes as Russian forces slowly but steadily gain ground in Ukraine, grinding through Kyiv’s defences in costly battles.

Peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv have stalled, despite mediation efforts from Trump, who had promised to quickly end the war upon his return to the White House in January.

Trump slapped sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies on Wednesday, complaining that his talks with Putin to end the Ukraine war “don’t go anywhere.”

On Saturday, Trump played down prospects of a new summit with Putin, saying “not going to be wasting my time”.

The remarks came as Kremlin negotiator Kirill Dmitriev met with Trump administration officials on Friday and Saturday, a Russian source familiar with the talks told AFP. The talks are expected to continue on Sunday.

Putin, for his part, said on Sunday that he did not want to set a timetable for an end to the fighting.

“We are not going to align anything with any dates or events… we will base our actions on military rationality,” he said.