Russia on Wednesday announced it had carried out a large-scale nuclear weapons training exercise, just a day after the United States postponed plans for a second summit between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.
The Kremlin released footage showing General Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff, briefing Putin on the drills, which included simulated launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of striking the United States.
At several points during the ongoing war in Ukraine, Putin has referenced Russia’s nuclear arsenal as a warning to both Kyiv and its Western allies. The exercise coincides with NATO’s nuclear deterrence drills currently underway across Europe.
Putin and Trump reportedly agreed last week to hold a summit in Hungary within weeks, but the White House said plans were now on hold. Following a Monday call between senior diplomats from both sides, US officials stated that Trump had “no plans to meet Putin in the immediate future,” with the former president saying he did not want to have a “wasted meeting.”
Despite the delay, the Kremlin said preparations were ongoing. “The dates haven’t been set yet, but thorough preparation is needed before then, and that takes time,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
The postponement comes amid renewed discussions about Russia’s peace terms with Ukraine. Sources familiar with the talks said Moscow had restated its demand for Kyiv to relinquish full control of the Donbas region, rejecting Trump’s proposal that both sides maintain current front-line positions.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, speaking to state news agency RIA, declined to confirm the reported peace terms but insisted summit planning was continuing. “It’s a difficult process, I admit but that’s precisely what diplomats are for,” he said.
Meanwhile, tensions escalated overnight as Russia and Ukraine exchanged heavy missile fire, leaving six civilians, including two children, dead in Kyiv and surrounding areas. Ukrainian officials reported widespread power outages across the country following the attacks.
