Trump to Putin: End Ukraine War Instead of Testing Nuclear Missiles/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump has called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine instead of testing new nuclear missiles. Trump revealed the U.S. has a nuclear submarine stationed near Russia and warned against unnecessary military escalation. Meanwhile, the Kremlin defended its missile tests as being in line with national interests.
Trump Pressures Putin Over War, Missiles: Quick Looks
- Trump tells Putin to end Ukraine war, not test missiles
- U.S. has nuclear submarine near Russia’s coast, Trump reveals
- Putin touts test of 9M730 Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile
- Kremlin says missile test won’t affect U.S.-Russia relations
- Russia claims missile flew 14,000 km, can evade defense shields
- Trump suggests war in Ukraine should have ended in a week
- Kremlin insists new weapons are for national security
- Trump hints at more U.S. sanctions if war continues
Deep Look
Trump to Putin: End Ukraine War Instead of Testing Nuclear Missiles
AIR FORCE ONE — October 27, 2025 — U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a pointed message to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, urging him to end the war in Ukraine rather than focus on provocative missile tests. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump also confirmed the presence of a U.S. nuclear submarine off the Russian coast, a rare public disclosure underscoring the escalating tensions between the two global powers.
“You ought to get the war ended,” Trump said. “The war that should have taken one week is now in its fourth year.”
His remarks came in response to Russia’s announcement that it had successfully tested the 9M730 Burevestnik (NATO codename: SSC-X-9 Skyfall), a nuclear-powered cruise missile capable of flying thousands of miles and reportedly designed to evade any missile defense shield.
According to the Kremlin, the missile flew 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles) during its recent test. But Trump downplayed the significance, stating the U.S. doesn’t need such range thanks to its military positioning.
“They know we have a nuclear submarine, the greatest in the world, right off their shores,” Trump said in an audio clip released by the White House. “It doesn’t have to go 8,000 miles.”
Kremlin Responds: National Interests Come First
In response to Trump’s comments, the Kremlin said it was not looking to provoke tension but emphasized that Russia acts based on its own national interests.
“Despite all our openness to establishing a dialogue with the United States, Russia and President Putin are guided by our national interests,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Peskov downplayed the geopolitical impact of the missile test, saying the development of new weapons is aimed at securing Russia’s defense, not at straining relations with Washington.
“There is nothing here that can and should strain relations between Moscow and Washington,” Peskov added.
Nuclear Tensions and Rare Military Disclosures
Trump’s mention of a nuclear submarine so close to Russia is highly unusual. Both the U.S. and Russia rarely discuss the deployment of nuclear-armed submarines, which are a central element of their strategic deterrence forces.
His comments echoed earlier threats following remarks by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who warned of escalating risks of direct conflict between the two nuclear-armed superpowers.
“They’re not playing games with us, and we’re not playing games with them either,” Trump said.
Trump also noted that the U.S. tests missiles “all the time,” implying that such activity is routine and should not be interpreted as a show of aggression.
U.S. Sanctions Looming Over Ukraine Conflict
On October 25, Reuters reported that the Trump administration had prepared additional sanctions targeting key sectors of the Russian economy should Moscow continue to delay a resolution to the Ukraine war.
Asked whether he would implement further sanctions, Trump offered a characteristic teaser:
“You’ll find out,” he said.
The Biden administration previously used sanctions to isolate Russia diplomatically and financially, but Trump’s current approach mixes military deterrence with economic threats, coupled with repeated calls for Putin to end the war quickly.
Four Years of War in Ukraine
The war in Ukraine, now stretching into its fourth year, has become a prolonged and devastating conflict with no clear end in sight. Trump has repeatedly stated that, under his leadership, the conflict should have been resolved much sooner.
“The war that should have taken one week is now in its fourth year,” he reiterated Monday.
Since the invasion began in early 2022, tens of thousands have died, millions have been displaced, and Europe’s security structure has been upended.
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