Russia uses missile in Ukraine that led Trump to quit nuclear treaty, Kyiv says

Reuters.com ^ | October 31, 20251:05 AM CDT | Tom Balmforth

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Summary

• Russia uses 9M729 missile in Ukraine, Kyiv says
• The 9M729 was at heart of arms control dispute in 2019
• The missile can carry a conventional or nuclear warhead

LONDON, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Russia has in recent months attacked Ukraine with a cruise missile whose secret development prompted Donald Trump to abandon a nuclear arms control pact with Moscow in his first term as U.S. president, Ukraine's foreign minister said.

Andrii Sybiha's comments are the first confirmation that Russia has used the ground-launched 9M729 missile in combat - in Ukraine or elsewhere.

Russia has fired the missile at Ukraine 23 times since August, a second senior Ukrainian official told Reuters. Ukraine also recorded two launches of the 9M729 by Russia in 2022, the source said.

Russia's defence ministry did not immediately reply to a written request for comment.

ONE MISSILE FLEW 1,200 KM, SOURCE SAYS

The 9M729 led the United States to quit the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 2019. Washington said the missile was in breach of the treaty and could fly far beyond its limit of 500 km (310 miles) although Russia denied this.

The missile, which can carry a nuclear or conventional warhead, has a range of 2,500 km, according to the Missile Threat website produced at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

A military source said a 9M729 fired by Russia on October 5 flew over 1,200 km to its impact in Ukraine.

"Russia's use of the INF-banned 9M729 against Ukraine in the past months demonstrates (President Vladimir) Putin's disrespect to the United States and President Trump's diplomatic efforts to end Russia's war against Ukraine," Sybiha said in written remarks.

He told Reuters that Kyiv supported Trump's peace proposals and that Russia should face maximum pressure to push it to peace, saying that boosting Ukraine's long-range firepower would help persuade Moscow to end...

[DesertRhino]

We pulled out of the treaty because we needed missiles with longer range than the treaty allowed if we get a the war with China we are wanting.
So we accused the Russians having a missile of a longer range as a ruse.

But whatever excuse gets you through the night I guess…

[BobL]

I was thinking something just like that regarding Trump’s decision to re-start nuclear testing. We blame Russia, but the REAL REASON is to make sure our firecrackers will work against China.

It is clever and the media cannot get on Trump’s case, since it’s framed as ‘anti-Russia’, so the media (and the Leftists here) are trapped!

[House Atreides]

“ We blame Russia, but the REAL REASON is to make sure our firecrackers will work against China.”
*****************************************

And China is definitely where our focus needs to be.

[bobbo666]

So F..in what? Talk about grasping at straws.