Putin prepares for nuclear war on eve of Trump summit: Russia readys new cruise missile nuke for tests in satellite images after Donald warned of 'severe consequences' if Ukraine conflict continues

Daily Mail​

2 days ago

Russia is gearing up to test its nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed cruise missile on the eve of Vladimir Putin's summit with Donald Trump and after the US president warned him of 'severe consequences' if the war continues.
Experts say recent satellite images show intense preparations at the Pankovo test site on Novaya Zemlya, a remote archipelago in the Barents Sea.
The pictures, taken in recent weeks by commercial satellite firm Planet Labs, reveal a surge in personnel, equipment, ships and aircraft linked to earlier tests of the 9M730 Burevestnik, known to NATO as the SSC-X-9 Skyfall.
A Western security source has also verified that Russia is preparing a Burevestnik launch, supporting the findings by Jeffrey Lewis from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and Decker Eveleth, of the CNA research and analysis organisation.
Lewis told Reuters that it could happen this week, which could potentially overshadow the planned Putin-Trump summit in Alaska.
Putin has previously described the Burevestnik as 'invincible' to current and future missile defences, claiming it has almost unlimited range.
The development of the missiles has become a prime focus for Putin, especially after Trump revealed what he called the US Golden Dome missile in January, according to experts.
However, some specialists doubt it can truly evade defence systems or give Russia capabilities it does not already possess. There are also concerns that the missile could release dangerous radiation along its route.
Putin and Trump are set to meet in Alaska on Friday to discuss ending the war in Ukraine
Researchers believe the test would have been scheduled long before the summit was announced.
But they say Putin could have slowed or halted visible preparations to demonstrate that he was open to ending the war in Ukraine and restarting arms control talks with Washington.
The Burevestnik does not have a stellar track record, according to the Nuclear Threat Initiative, with just two partial successes in 13 known tests.
Lewis and Eveleth say Planet Labs images taken since late July show stacks of shipping containers, more equipment and more personnel arriving at the site.
Lewis said two aircraft equipped to collect test data have been parked at Rogachevo military airfield since mid-July, both carrying saucer-shaped radar domes.
He also noted the presence of at least five ships linked to past tests, and said ship-tracking site VesselFinder.com showed a sixth vessel, the Teriberka cargo ship, heading towards Novaya Zemlya this week.
Reuters confirmed the vessel's course but could not independently verify the rest of the findings.
The researchers say they began monitoring Pankovo in July and increased scrutiny after Russia issued a maritime warning on August 6 for the period between August 9 and 12.
Notices on the US Federal Aviation Administration's system suggested a possible launch window from August 9 to 22.
Norway's military told Reuters the Barents Sea is a 'prime location for Russian missile tests' and that warnings pointed to 'preparations for test activities', though it would not confirm the type of weapon.
In late July, Eveleth noticed a large shelter protecting the launcher being moved back and forth, which he called 'very clear evidence' of an upcoming launch.
Lewis provided August 7 images showing the launcher cover, stacks of containers, a crane and a helicopter. 'It's full steam ahead,' he said.
The revelation comes after Trump warned Putin 'there will be very severe consequences' if Russia does not agree to stop the war in Ukraine after their meeting on Friday.
The US President took a tougher tone against the dictator today saying he was yet to be convinced he would be able to persuade Putin to stop killing civilians.
European leaders also said Mr Trump had agreed to make an immediate ceasefire at the start of negotiations a priority - something that will be painful for Moscow which is gaining territory by the day.
In more encouraging news for Ukraine, the US President said tomorrow is only 'setting the table' for a second meeting where Volodymyr Zelensky will be present.
Mr Trump cautioned that if he 'doesn't get the answers' he needs on Friday 'then we're not going to have a second meeting'.
Asked if Russia will face consequences in that scenario, Mr Trump said: 'Yes, they will. There will be consequences.'
Asked if that would be sanctions or tariffs, Trump said: 'I don't have to say. There will be very severe consequences.'
But he hoped that there would be a 'quick second meeting' following the summit between Putin, Zelensky 'and myself if they'd like to have me there'.
Describing the purpose of Alaska, Mr Trump said it was 'to find out where we are and what we are doing' before a 'more productive meeting' with Ukraine present.
It is hoped that this second summit would take place in a neutral European country.
Today it emerged Mr Trump is planning to offer Putin access to rare earth minerals to incentivise him to end the war including opening up Alaska's natural resources to Moscow and lifting some sanctions.
It may also include giving Russia access to the rare earth minerals in the Ukrainian territories under their occupation, the Telegraph reported.
JD Vance today said the US President had vowed that they would 'bring peace to Europe' in a speech at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire
Mr Zelensky, who dialled in from Berlin where he was meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, described the talks as 'constructive and good'
JD Vance today said the US President had vowed that they would 'bring peace to Europe' in a speech at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.
He channelled the spirit of how America and Britain had brought peace by victory in World War Two after spending the week with Foreign Secretary David Lammy at Chevening House in Kent.
Describing what he and Mr Lammy had discussed, the Vice President said: 'What we did is we worked on one of our most important shared security goals in Europe, which is the end of the war between Russia and Ukraine.
'The President of the United States came in six months ago, and I just talked to him right before I came on the stage, and he said very simply that we are going to make it our mission as an administration to bring peace to Europe once again.'
It marked a successful day of European diplomacy after Mr Trump's deeply concerning press conference on Monday where he appeared to blame Mr Zelensky for the war and take a softer stance against Putin.
EU leaders scrambled to hold a virtual summit with the US President and the Ukrainian leader today which Mr Trump said he 'would rate a 10'.
Afterwards Mr Zelensky, who dialled in from Berlin where he was meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, described the talks as 'constructive and good'.
He said that 'Trump supported us today' and that leaders around the world are unified towards reaching 'peace in Ukraine'.
Mr Zelensky also warned leaders that Putin 'is bluffing' that sanctions 'do not matter to him and are ineffective' as they are in fact 'hitting Russia's war economy hard'.
Chancellor Merz reiterated to Mr Trump that they must apply more 'pressure' on Putin if there is no movement towards peace.
He said the US president 'knows this position and agrees with it'. Chancellor Merz also stressed that a ceasefire must come at the beginning of negotiations - and that Mr Trump 'also wants to make this one of his priorities'.
Sir Keir Starmer, who was also present on the call, said the 'coalition of the willing' is ready to deploy a 'reassurance force' when the moment arises.
In more encouraging signs, Mr Vance joined a call for the coalition of the willing for the first time today, dialling in from RAF Fairford before Mr Trump also joined.
It marks a significant turn around since the Vice President disparagingly dismissed the peacekeeping proposal in March as '20,000 troops from some random country that hasn't fought a war in 30 or 40 years'.
Sir Keir said today: 'For three-and-a-bit years this conflict has been going on and we haven't got anywhere near the prospect of actually a viable solution, a viable way of bringing it to a ceasefire - and now we do have that chance because of the work that the president has put in.'