Putin Orders Nuclear Drills as Trump Summit Delayed/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Russian President Vladimir Putin oversaw major nuclear force drills just as his anticipated summit with U.S. President Donald Trump was postponed. The Kremlin said the exercises involved test-launching ballistic missiles and cruise missiles from land, air, and sea. Trump delayed the meeting after disagreements on Ukraine peace terms.
Russia’s Nuclear Drills + Trump Summit Delay Quick Looks
- Putin led strategic nuclear drills involving ICBMs and bombers.
- Russian forces launched Yars and Sineva missiles during exercises.
- Drills included land-based, submarine, and air-based missile launches.
- Russia says drills were pre-planned; U.S. summit delay coincidental.
- Trump postponed a planned Putin meeting in Budapest.
- Disagreements over Ukraine ceasefire terms prompted the delay.
- Kremlin says proper preparation needed for any future summit.
- Russia opposes immediate ceasefire; Trump shifts stance on Ukraine.
Deep Look: Putin Orders Nuclear Drills as Trump Delays Ukraine Peace Summit
MOSCOW — October 22, 2025 – In a show of military force and command readiness, Russian President Vladimir Putin directed strategic nuclear drills on Wednesday involving missile launches across Russia’s nuclear triad — just hours after a planned summit with U.S. President Donald Trump was postponed over diverging views on Ukraine.
According to a Kremlin statement, the exercises featured test launches from:
- A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from the Plesetsk launch site in northwestern Russia
- A Sineva ICBM fired from a submarine in the Barents Sea
- Tu-95 strategic bombers launching long-range cruise missiles
The maneuvers were designed to evaluate the readiness of Russia’s nuclear command and control systems and to simulate procedures for authorizing the use of nuclear weapons, according to General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff, who briefed Putin via secure video link.
Nuclear Command Exercise: Putin Oversees Alone
During the drill, Putin appeared alone at a round white table, watching large video monitors displaying Gerasimov and Defense Minister Andrei Belousov. These three figures form Russia’s highest-level nuclear command authority and would be involved in any actual deployment of nuclear weapons.
Putin emphasized the drills had been scheduled in advance, but the timing raised eyebrows, coming shortly after Trump announced a delay to the long-anticipated U.S.-Russia summit.
Trump Postpones Putin Meeting Over Ukraine Disagreements
The proposed meeting between Putin and Trump, originally planned for Budapest, Hungary, was put on hold after Trump described it as potentially a “waste of time.” The delay followed a conversation between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday.
Lavrov publicly confirmed that Russia opposes an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, while Trump has struggled to establish a consistent stance on whether a ceasefire should occur before or after peace negotiations — or whether Ukraine should reclaim territory seized by Russia since 2021.
The shifting U.S. position, coupled with Moscow’s hardened stance, pushed the summit into uncertain territory.
Kremlin Urges “Thorough Preparation” for Productive Talks
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that both leaders expect high-impact meetings and emphasized the need for detailed groundwork before any future summit.
“No one wants to waste time: neither President Trump nor President Putin,” Peskov told reporters. “These are the two presidents who are accustomed to working efficiently with high productivity. But effectiveness always requires preparation.”
The Kremlin downplayed any connection between the nuclear drills and the summit delay but acknowledged the geopolitical tension that continues to dominate the U.S.-Russia relationship.
Strategic and Diplomatic Significance
The nuclear exercise reaffirmed Russia’s emphasis on military readiness and deterrence at a time when diplomatic resolutions around Ukraine remain elusive. It also served as a reminder of Russia’s strategic capabilities as global powers maneuver diplomatically behind the scenes.
While both Washington and Moscow insist on keeping communication channels open, analysts note that public displays of force like this are often used to increase leverage ahead of negotiations or to demonstrate strength during periods of uncertainty.
As the war in Ukraine approaches its fourth year, the window for a diplomatic resolution appears increasingly narrow, with neither side fully committed to a ceasefire under current terms.
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