Russia has commenced major strategic nuclear exercises, ordered by President Vladimir Putin, featuring practice launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles and strategic bombers. These significant military drills are taking place against the backdrop of a postponed summit between Putin and US President Donald Trump, which was slated to discuss the ongoing situation in Ukraine. The Russian government has affirmed that these exercises were pre-planned and focused on assessing the efficacy of nuclear command and control systems. The drills reportedly involved Russia’s entire nuclear triad, with specific actions including a Yars ICBM launch from the Plesetsk facility and a Sineva ICBM launch from a submarine in the Barents Sea. Furthermore, strategic bombers of the Tu-95 type executed long-range cruise missile firings. General Valery Gerasimov, the Chief of the General Staff, informed President Putin that the maneuvers were designed to simulate ‘procedures for authorising the use of nuclear weapons.’ The timing of these exercises, while stated as pre-scheduled, occurs shortly after President Trump decided to delay his Budapest meeting with Putin, citing a desire to avoid a fruitless discussion. This decision reportedly followed diplomatic communications, including a call between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, where Russia’s stance on the need for a ceasefire in Ukraine was conveyed. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized that effective diplomacy requires careful preparation, a principle shared by both President Trump and President Putin.
