Russia has in recent months struck Ukraine with a cruise missile whose covert development led Donald Trump to withdraw from a nuclear arms control treaty with Moscow during his first presidential term, 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

The 9M729 led the United States to quit the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 2019. Washi

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