« Putin Signs Law Banning Adoption of Children to Citizens of Countries Allowing Gender Transition | Kremlin explains why Oreshnik missile came as surprise » |
The Russian president is tired of holding himself back. Putin surprised the world on Thursday when he addressed the nation to announce that Russia had tested a new medium-range hypersonic missile in a strike on a famous Soviet industrial complex in the Ukrainian city of Dnepropetrovsk. He said it was a response to the recent US and UK authorization of Ukraine to use long-range missiles to strike Russian territory, a decision that has led to the NATO-Russia conflict in Ukraine “taking on elements of a global character.” As I explained, the latest phase of the conflict has led to a “moment of truth,” with the Russian president faced with a choice between escalation and continuing his policy of strategic patience. The first option could prevent Trump from reaching a peace agreement, while the second could provoke even more aggression. Putin chose the former, and in a creative way that few saw coming. The Oreshnik missile system he announced Thursday has multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs).Read also