Donald Trump has delivered a clear and stern message to Vladimir Putin as tensions between the two leaders continue to escalate.
There was a time when Trump boasted about his close ties with Putin, but their relationship has deteriorated significantly.
In August, the two leaders met in Alaska to discuss the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Trump left the meeting optimistic that a resolution could be reached to end the conflict. However, the situation hasn’t improved, and last month, Trump provided a grim update on the state of Russia and Ukraine’s relationship.
Putin, showing no signs of de-escalating the war with Ukraine, recently claimed that Russia possesses the world’s ‘highest level’ of nuclear forces.
This statement followed a recent nuclear missile test. During a televised meeting, Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov informed President Putin: “We have launched a multi-hour flight of a nuclear-powered missile and it covered a 14,000km (8,700-mile) distance, which is not the limit.”
The missile reportedly possesses ‘unlimited range.’
Trump has since voiced his concerns about the missile test, making his position clear.
On Air Force One, Trump told reporters on October 27, as reported by Fox News: “I 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, and they’re not playing games with us. We’re not playing games with them either.”
He continued: “We test missiles all the time. But, you know, we do have a submarine, a nuclear submarine. We don’t need to go 8,000 miles.”
“And I don’t think it’s an appropriate thing for Putin to be saying either, by the way. You ought to get the war ended. A war that should have taken one week is now in its soon fourth year. That’s what you ought to do instead of testing missiles.”
When asked about potential additional sanctions on Russia, Trump replied: “You’ll find out.”
Despite Trump’s comments, Russia seemed undeterred and conducted another test, this time involving a new atomic-powered and nuclear-capable underwater drone.
Putin claims the new weapon is impossible to intercept.
During a meeting with soldiers injured in Ukraine, Putin announced that the Poseidon drone had its first successful test run using nuclear power, calling it a ‘huge success’.