Explained: What is Russia's 9M729 missile, the use of which led Trump to withdraw from INF Treaty?

New Delhi: During its war with Ukraine, in recent months, Russia attacked Kyiv with a cruise missile, which was developed secretly, prompting US President Donald Trump to abandon a pact on nuclear arms control with Moscow in his first term in office.

The information was revealed by Ukraine's foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, confirming that Russia used the ground-launched 9M729 missile, possibly against Ukraine. According to a report by Reuters, Russia used the missile 23 times on Ukraine since August, with Kyiv recording two launches of the 9M729 missile in 2022.

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Since Russia allegedly fired the 9M729 missile, the US government of Donald Trump pulled out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 2019. It accused Moscow of breaching the treaty, since the missile could reportedly fly far beyond its limit of 500 km.

The missile reportedly has a range of 2,500 km and can carry a nuclear or conventional warhead. As per the Reuters report, on October 5, Russia fired a 9M729 missile that flew more than 1,200 km before hitting Ukraine.

According to Reuters, Sybiha said, "Russia's use of the INF-banned 9M729 against Ukraine in the past months demonstrates Putin's disrespect to the United States and President Trump's diplomatic efforts to end Russia's war against Ukraine." He said Trump's peace proposals have Ukraine's support, and Russia should be forced to accept peace, and it could be done by increasing the long-range firepower of his country. Hence, it has asked the US to provide long-range Tomahawk missiles.

Russia’s usage of the 9M729 missile is a threat to Ukraine and the peace of the rest of Europe as Trump pushes for peace. Last week, Moscow tested its nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile and tested Poseidon, a nuclear-powered torpedo, on Wednesday. As a result, Trump has ordered the US to test its own nuclear weapons and recently claimed that the US has the most of them on this planet.