Putin's Nuclear Drills Heighten Tensions as Trump Summit Stalls

Russian President Vladimir Putin directed nuclear drills, including missile launches, amid a paused summit with US President Donald Trump. The exercise involved ICBMs and strategic bombers, testing command structures. Tensions remain high, with differing views on the Ukraine conflict and the need for a prepared Trump-Putin meeting.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday oversaw nuclear force drills, signaling ongoing global tensions as his summit with US President Donald Trump was delayed.

The maneuvers, involving Moscow's nuclear triad, included missile launches from northern Russia and the Barents Sea, as well as cruise missile tests by strategic bombers.

This came as Trump postponed a meeting with Putin, amid differing positions on Ukraine's conflict, underscoring the need for meticulous summit preparation, as highlighted by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

(With inputs from agencies.)