Kremlin Believes Burevestnik Missile Tests Don't Burvest Russia-US Relations

Dmitry Peskov. (Source: Sergey Fadeichev / TASS)

JAKARTA - The Burevestnik missile test should not affect relations between Moscow and Washington, which are already at a minimum level, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.

"There's nothing here that can or should further burden the relationship between Moscow and Washington, especially as their relationship is already at its minimum level," Peskov said, quoted from TASS October 28.

"So far, only the first tentative step has been taken to bring this relationship out of its previous stagnation condition," added Peskov.

The day before, the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces reported to President Vladimir Putin about the successful completion of the Burevestnik missile test at a nuclear facility.

This weapon is said to be very autonomous and can fly long distances at low altitudes, thereby reducing its vulnerability to the air defense system.

Chief of Staff of the Russian Armed Forces General Valery Gerasimov reported to President Putin, the 9M730 Burevestnik (Storm Petrel) missile - dubbed SSC-X-9 Skyfall by NATO covered a distance of 14,000 km (8,700 miles) and was in the air for about 15 hours when tested on October 21.

"This is a unique weapon that no one in the world has," President Putin said in a statement released by the Kremlin on Sunday.

Since announcing 9M730 Burevestnik in 2018, President Putin has declared the weapon a response to the United States' move to build missile defenses after Washington unilaterally withdrew from the 1972 Anti-Balistic Missile Agreement in 2001, and to expand the NATO military alliance.

It is known, since Donald Trump served as President of the US, Moscow and Washington have been working to normalize bilateral relations.

Moscow has stressed that it will not take decisions under pressure and Washington's "unfriendly" actions will not contribute to the normalization of relations.