Russia has announced the successful test of its new nuclear-powered cruise missile, the Burevestnik, and the reaction from the United States has been swift. President Donald Trump criticised the test as “not appropriate,” insisting that Russian President Vladimir Putin should concentrate on a peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine rather than showcasing new weapons.
During remarks aboard Air Force One, Trump remarked that the U.S. already maintains a nuclear submarine “just off their shore,” questioning the necessity of a missile that needs to travel thousands of miles to reach its target. He described the test as a distraction from the conflict in Ukraine and urged for a change in focus.
Putin, for his part, declared the weapon “unique,” claiming it to be unmatched by any other country and capable of bypassing existing missile defences. He said the test flight reportedly covered approximately 8,700 miles over 15 hours — figures that Western analysts dispute as exaggerated or unverified.
Experts have voiced strong doubts about the missile’s actual performance and strategic usefulness. Some view its announcement as part of a broader Russian effort to intimidate the West and discourage additional military support for Ukraine, rather than a genuine shift in battlefield capability. The timing of the test — amid stalled U.S.–Russia diplomacy and heightened nuclear signalling — has raised concerns about the weapon’s symbolic nature rather than any imminent deployment.
In Washington, officials and analysts assert that while the missile may headline Moscow’s media strategy, the realities of missile-defence penetration, reliability of nuclear propulsion, and environmental risks suggest that the threat may be more psychological than practical. That said, its unveiling adds a new dimension to an already fraught strategic landscape, underscoring how war in Ukraine and nuclear deterrence remain tightly intertwined.
