Saturday, March 29, 2025
Putin Provokes Trump: Russia Conducts Second Nuclear Test in a Week Despite U.S. Warning
Defying U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning, Russia has conducted its second nuclear-capable weapons test within a week, further heightening tensions between Washington and Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin personally confirmed the test, describing it as a major step in advancing Russia’s underwater nuclear arsenal.
On Wednesday, Putin announced that Russia had successfully tested its nuclear-powered, nuclear-capable underwater drone “Poseidon.” “The unmanned underwater vehicle Poseidon, equipped with a nuclear power unit, has been successfully tested,” Putin declared in a televised statement.
Putin claimed the Poseidon drone — often dubbed the “doomsday torpedo” — is impossible to intercept and faster than any conventional submarine. He added that it could reach any continent on Earth and that no nation possesses technology capable of matching its speed or diving depth. “There will be no comparable system in the foreseeable future,” he asserted.
Just days earlier, under Putin’s direct supervision, Russia had also tested the Burevestnik cruise missile, another nuclear-capable weapon designed for long-range strikes.
President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly urged Putin to focus on ending the Ukraine war instead of expanding Russia’s nuclear program, criticized the Kremlin’s actions. After the first Burevestnik test, Trump had said, “He should end the war in Ukraine — a war that should have lasted a week is now entering its fourth year. Instead of testing missiles, he should focus on peace.”
Trump also canceled a planned summit with Putin in Budapest last week, signaling rising frustration in Washington over Russia’s aggressive posturing.
Analysts believe Putin’s rapid succession of nuclear tests sends a clear political signal to both Washington and NATO — that Russia will continue to project military strength regardless of Western warnings or sanctions.
The Poseidon system, first revealed in 2018, is designed to carry a nuclear warhead powerful enough to trigger massive underwater shockwaves, potentially devastating coastal cities. Western defense experts have called it a “strategic deterrent and psychological weapon.”
This latest test underscores the deepening strain in U.S.–Russia relations. While Trump has publicly insisted that Moscow should prioritize peace, Putin appears determined to demonstrate that Russia’s defense modernization remains unstoppable.
As global attention turns to the Ukraine conflict’s fourth anniversary, Putin’s message seems clear — Russia will continue advancing its nuclear capabilities, with or without U.S. approval.
