Russia says nuclear-powered cruise missile test done, Trump reacts

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday announced that Russia had completed decisive tests of a nuclearpowered cruise missile and ordered work to prepare it for deployment, prompting a public response from U.S. President Donald Trump, who urged Putin to focus on ending the war in Ukraine rather than on weapons tests. Russia also said this week it tested a nuclearpowered unmanned underwater vehicle, further intensifying international concern about Moscow’s expanding strategic arsenal.

Putin said the 9M730 Burevestnik, known by NATO as SSCX‑9 Skyfall, had completed a key trial and was a “unique” weapon with effectively unlimited range. Russia’s chief of the general staff, Valery Gerasimov, told Putin the missile flew about 14,000 kilometers and remained aloft for roughly 15 hours during a test on October 21. Gerasimov said the flight included maneuvers intended to demonstrate the missile’s ability to evade interception. Putin ordered the preparation of infrastructure to field the system in the armed forces.

Asked about the announcement aboard Air Force One, Trump called the test “not appropriate” and said Putin “ought to get the war in Ukraine ended.” Trump added that the...