Putin oversees intercontinental missile launch amid diplomatic standoff with Washington and collapse of preparations for the summit with Donald Trump.
Russia has carried out a series of large-scale strategic exercises involving all components of its so-called “nuclear triad” — land, sea, and air forces.
During the maneuvers, an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Yars was launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia toward the Kura test range, located on the Kamchatka Peninsula — a region near Alaska and thus close to the U.S. border.
President Vladimir Putin personally observed the launch, in a clear display of military power and deterrent capability.
The drills took place amid escalating tensions with Washington and the collapse of preparations for the planned Putin–Trump summit, which was expected to symbolize a potential diplomatic thaw between the two leaders.
Western analysts interpreted the Kremlin’s actions as a direct provocation. “Putin is taunting Trump — it looks like Moscow is begging for Tomahawks,” commented a U.S. political observer, referring to the American Tomahawk cruise missiles often associated with swift U.S. military responses.
The maneuvers reinforce the perception that the nuclear rivalry between Russia and the United States has returned to the forefront of international politics, with both powers publicly showcasing their strategic capabilities amid the deterioration of diplomatic dialogue.
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