Russia's UNLIMITED Nuclear Range Missile: Trump 'Tests Not Appropriate' /Lt Col Daniel Davis

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After strong remarks from US President Donald Trump calling Russia's missile test inappropriate, the Kremlin has finally broken its silence. Russia says that its latest nuclear-capable missile trial poses no threat to relations with Washington.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov says that Moscow remains open to dialogue with the United States. Its actions are firmly guided by its own national interests.

“Despite our openness to establishing dialogue with the US, Russia is guided by our own national interests. That is how it has been, how it is, and how it will continue to be.”

The statement follows Trump's characterization of the missile test as inappropriate, urging Russia to halt such actions and concentrate on bringing the war in Ukraine to an end.

“I don't think it's an appropriate thing for Putin to be saying either. By the way, he ought to get the war ended. A war that should have taken one week is now in its soon fourth year. That's what he ought to do instead of testing missiles.”

The Burevestnik, a nuclear-powered cruise missile, has been described by Russian President Vladimir Putin as a strategic breakthrough. On Sunday, appearing in military uniform during a meeting with top generals, Putin said the test was successful and signaled that Russia was ready to move toward deploying the weapon.

Burevestnik, which translates as “storm petrel” in Russian, is codenamed the SSC-X9 Skyfall by NATO. Putin first unveiled the 9M730 Burevestnik project in 2018, framing it as a countermeasure to Washington's withdrawal from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. Moscow has since described the weapon as a counter to US missile defense systems.

Last November, Russia officially revised its nuclear weapons doctrine, significantly lowering the threshold for their potential use. Soon after, Moscow deployed its new nuclear-capable Burevestnik missile on the battlefield in Ukraine.

The timing of the Burevestnik test is significant. It coincides with heightened Russian nuclear drills and a pause in diplomatic talks between Moscow and Washington over the war in Ukraine. Relations between Putin and Trump took a new hit after the US imposed surprise sanctions on Russian oil giants and key subsidiaries.

Joining us live on the broadcast is retired Lieutenant Colonel Daniel L. Davis, a military expert and host of Daniel Davis Deep Dive on YouTube.

“Thank you so much for joining us, Colonel Davis. Russia calls this test not a threat to anyone, especially not US defense systems. But what does this test reveal about where Russia stands right now and its priorities?”

“Well, it just shows that they're continuing to advance their capabilities, especially as they see the United States advance. And you know, President Trump may do a big hullabaloo about this golden dome that’s going to intercept everything and keep us safe. Of course, that just gives motivation for every other country around the world to make sure they can penetrate that shield. Otherwise, it gives a near nuclear-free card to whoever can prevent any kind of missile strike into their country.

Now this of course goes back long before that announcement was made. But when you look at that on top of what we're doing with supporting the Ukraine side in the war—potentially even contemplating giving Tomahawk cruise missiles, things that can already strike deep into Russia—and then this even goes back, according to Vladimir Putin, to when the US pulled out of the ABM Treaty, the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. We’ve also pulled out of the Intermediate-Range Missile Treaty. That’s what spawned the start of the Burevestnik missile.

You see, we don’t like there to be consequences to actions. We just want to do stuff and then expect the other side to back down. But the other side never backs down—they just step it up. That’s the problem we have here: we don’t have the power to just dictate to the other side what to do. And so, as Dmitry Peskov said, they’re going to act in their national interest. This is as predictable as it can be, and we’re basically in an arms race right now. And it’s bad for everyone.”