Russia Launches New Missile, Pentagon: We're Not Looking For War, Haven't Adjusted Nuclear Posture

Pentagon. (Wikimedia Commons/Mariordo Camila Ferreira & Mario Duran)

JAKARTA - The United States is not seeking war with Russia and has not adjusted its nuclear posture, a Department of Defense (Pentagon) official said after Russia launched a new hypersonic ballistic missile into Ukraine on Thursday.

"We haven't seen the adjustments we have observed in their nuclear posture, and we haven't adjusted our nuclear posture instead," Defense Department Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters, quoted from TASS November 22.

President Vladimir Putin in a evening address broadcast on television said in response to Western decisions to allow in-depth strategic attacks on Russia, using weapons given by the US and its allies, Moscow used the Orestnik medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile for the first time.

The missile, which hit Ukraine's defense production site in Dnipro (previously Dnepropxisk), is equipped with a conventional warhead, but has the capability to carry a nuclear warhead.

Sabrina Singh said Uncle Sam's country would continue military assistance to Ukraine, without intending to seek confrontation with Moscow.

"We are not looking for war with Russia, but of course, you will see allies and partners who think equally well to support Ukraine, and that is what we will continue to do," he explained.

Singh also claims Washington, despite helping Ukraine, is not trying to turn the conflict into a large-scale regional confrontation that extends beyond the country's borders.