Ukraine crisis: US delays ICBM test in bid to de-escalate Russia nuclear tensions
- The scheduled launch of a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile has been postponed after Putin put his nuclear forces on high alert
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned on Wednesday that a third world war would be a nuclear conflict, remarks that added to growing unease
The US military said on Wednesday it will postpone a scheduled test launch of a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile, in a bid to lower soaring tensions after Russia announced it was putting its nuclear forces on high alert.
Putin’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, was quoted on Wednesday warning that a third world war would be a nuclear conflict, remarks that added to growing unease.
The Pentagon strongly condemned Russian rhetoric surrounding the world’s most destructive weaponry and said it hoped its decision to delay its ICBM test would serve as an example to Moscow.
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“We recognise, at this moment of tension, how critical it is that both the United States and Russia bear in mind the risk of miscalculation and take steps to reduce those risks,” said Pentagon spokesman John Kirby.