President Trump has urged Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, to end the war in Ukraine instead of testing new nuclear-capable weapons. During his Asian tour, Trump criticized Russia's recent test of the Bouran cruise missile, which can carry nuclear warheads, reigniting concerns over an escalating arms race. He remarked that the war in Ukraine "should have lasted a week" but is now entering its fourth year.

On Tuesday, responding to the missile test, Trump reiterated that Russia should focus on ending the conflict rather than conducting missile tests. Speaking aboard Air Force One, he emphasized that Putin needs to bring the war—which was expected to be brief—to a conclusion rather than showcasing missile capabilities.

These comments came just one day after Russia conducted a test of the cruise missile, which Moscow claims is capable of bypassing any existing defense systems. Putin has asserted that this new missile is invulnerable to all current defense mechanisms.