MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia had successfully tested a potent new strategic missile and declined to rule out the possibility it could carry out weapons tests involving nuclear explosions for the first time in more than three decades.
Putin said for the first time that Moscow had successfully tested the Burevestnik, a nuclear-powered and nuclear-capable cruise missile with a potential range of many thousands of miles.
He also told an annual gathering of analysts and journalists that Russia had almost completed work on its Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile system, another key element of its new generation of nuclear weapons.
Putin, who has repeatedly reminded the world of Russia's nuclear potential since launching his invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, said no one in their right mind would use nuclear weapons against Russia.
He noted that the United States had not ratified the treaty that bans nuclear tests, whereas Russia had both signed and ratified it.
Persons:
Vladimir Putin, Putin, Sergei Karaganov, Mark Trevelyan, Kevin Liffey
Organizations:
Duma, Military, Reuters
Locations:
MOSCOW, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine, Soviet Union, United States, Russia's