Russia Holds Nuclear Weapons Military Exercise, Ukraine Searches Swedish Fighter Jets

JAKARTA - Russia held a massive military exercise involving nuclear weapons, a day after the United States announced the postponement of plans for a second summit between President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump over the Ukraine war.

The Kremlin released a video showing General Chief of Staff, General Valery Gerasimov, reporting to Putin about the drills.

Russia said it fired missiles from land, submarine, and aircraft launchers, including intercontinental ballistic weapons capable of attacking the United States.

At crucial moments of war in Ukraine, Putin reminded Russia's nuclear power as a warning signal to Kyiv and his Western allies.

NATO has also carried out nuclear deterrence exercises this month.

In separate developments, Sweden said it had signed a statement of intention to export Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine, as European governments seek to strengthen the Kyiv defense in a war that has lasted for three years and eight months, and has not shown any signs of ending soon.

Ukrainian pilots have been in Sweden testing Gripen, a tough and relatively inexpensive option compared to aircraft like US-owned F-35.

"We have started the process of getting Gripen and hope future contracts will allow us to acquire no less than 100 such jets," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a visit to Swedish defense manufacturer Saab.

Zelenskyy emphasized that Kyiv is targeting to accept and start using it next year.