Russia has commenced significant drills of its strategic nuclear forces, encompassing ICBM test firings and strategic bomber deployments, under the directive of President Vladimir Putin. These exercises occurred during a period of uncertainty surrounding a planned summit with U.S. President Donald Trump aimed at resolving issues related to Ukraine.
Kremlin authorities highlighted that the maneuvers, which involved all elements of Russia’s nuclear triad, were pre-planned and intended to enhance operational readiness. The exercises featured a Yars ICBM launch from the Plesetsk cosmodrome, a Sineva ICBM deployment from a submarine in the Barents Sea, and long-range cruise missile firings by Tu-95 strategic bombers.
President Putin was briefed by General Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff, on the successful simulation of nuclear weapon authorization procedures. The announcement of these drills followed President Trump’s decision to postpone his scheduled meeting with Putin in Budapest. Trump stated he did not wish for the summit to be a fruitless endeavor, emphasizing the need for adequate preparation. This diplomatic pause stemmed from recent conversations between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, particularly concerning Russia’s position on a ceasefire in Ukraine. The Kremlin maintains that high-level meetings require careful and thorough preparation.