Russia said it would conduct a strategic nuclear force training exercise involving its land, sea and air components. This came a day after the United States announced the postponement of plans for a second summit between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.
The Kremlin published a video showing Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov reporting to Putin on the training. They included practical launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of hitting the US.
Putin said in the video that the drills were routine.
The Russian Defence Ministry said the tests included a practical launch of a land-based intercontinental ballistic missile, a separate missile launch from a nuclear submarine in the Barents Sea and missile launches from strategic bombers.
At key moments in the war in Ukraine, Putin has often reminded of Russia’s nuclear power as a warning signal to Kiev and its allies in the West. NATO is also holding nuclear deterrence exercises this month.
On 21 October, it was reported that Trump’s previously announced summit of US and Russian presidents in Budapest to end Russia’s war against Ukraine is not planned “in the near future.” This statement by an unnamed White House official was quoted by Reuters. “I think the Russians wanted a lot and it became obvious to the Americans that Trump was not going to be able to get an agreement in Budapest,” one diplomat said.
According to an NBC News journalist, who also cited a senior White House official, preparations for the Budapest summit are now “put on pause.” According to the TV channel’s interlocutor, the US president believes that the two sides are “not ready to negotiate yet”. Trump previously said he was disappointed with Putin over his unwillingness to end the war and continued strikes on Ukraine.
On 21 October at the White House, explaining to journalists the reason for halting preparations for talks with the Russian president, Trump said that he did not want to hold a “useless” meeting.