Russia holds nuclear training drills after US delays Putin-Trump summit in Budapest

Russia conducted large-scale nuclear training drills, a day after Washington announced a delay in plans for a second summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the war in Ukraine.

The Kremlin released video footage showing General Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff, briefing President Putin about the exercises. Moscow said it launched missiles from ground, submarines, and aircraft, featuring intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the United States.

Russia’s Defence Ministry also confirmed that its long-range Tu-22M3 strategic bombers had flown over the Baltic Sea. The bombers, it added, were shadowed at various points by fighter jets from foreign — presumably Nato — states.

At several critical stages of the war in Ukraine, Putin has reminded the world of Russia’s nuclear capability as a warning to Kyiv and its Western allies. Meanwhile, Nato is conducting its own nuclear deterrence exercises this month.

Adding to the tension, Sweden announced it had signed a letter of intent to supply Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine, as European governments work to strengthen Kyiv’s defences. The war has dragged on for more than three years and eight months since Russia’s full-scale invasion, with no sign of ending soon.

NO POINT IN A WASTED MEETING: TRUMP

While Moscow showcased its military power, diplomatic uncertainty loomed over the planned Putin-Trump summit. Both sides had previously expressed optimism about holding talks in Hungary within weeks, but the White House said Trump currently has “no plans to meet Putin in the immediate future.”

Trump told reporters he did not want to have a wasted meeting. “I don’t want to have a wasted meeting. I don’t want to have a waste of time, so we’ll see what happens,” Trump said.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the summit dates were still under discussion and that detailed preparations would take time.

A White House clarified that the summit was not cancelled but that Washington’s focus had shifted to Trump’s upcoming visit to Asia.

The summit delay followed reports that Moscow had reiterated its longstanding conditions for peace that Ukraine relinquish control over the entire southeastern Donbas region.

Trump, now nine months into his second term, has repeatedly pushed for an end to the conflict — the deadliest in Europe since World War Two — but has yet to impose additional sanctions despite criticising both Putin and Zelenskyy at various times.

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With inputs from agencies