US officials: Russia carried out failed “Satan II” nuclear missile test ahead of Biden visit to Ukraine
by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – US officials have stated Russia carried out a failed test of its intercontinental “Satan II” ballistic missiles ahead of President Joe Biden’s surprise visit to Ukraine this week, the London Standard reports.
One US official told CNN that Russia tested its SARMAT missiles just before Biden’s arrival in Kyiv on Monday, the Standard said. The missiles tested are known as “Satan II” in the West because of their ability to carry multiple nuclear warheads. The missiles are understood to have a range of nearly 7,000 miles.
A second US official told CNN that the Biden administration does not consider the SARMAT test to be a threat, the Standard said.
In a statement, US national security advisor Jake Sullivan said Moscow had been informed ahead of time that Biden would be visiting Ukraine. While meeting with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, Biden said the US would support Ukraine against Russia’s invasion for as long as necessary: “Putin’s war of conquest is failing,” Sullivan said.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that Russia will disengage from the 2010 New START treaty, which limits the number of nuclear warheads the US and Russia can deploy, the Standard reports. New START is the only remaining nuclear weapons reduction agreement between the two biggest nuclear powers.