Lead

Moscow has confirmed that it notified the United States and other countries about the testing of its Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, as reported by the Russian state news agency TASS. The confirmation came amid a series of statements from Russian officials regarding the missile's deployment and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Coverage Comparison

The reports from TASS, the sole source for this story, present the Kremlin's perspective on the Sarmat test and related issues. Three separate TASS articles cover different aspects: one focuses on Peskov's remarks about foreign reactions to the test and Ukraine-related matters, another details the notification process for the missile launch, and a third highlights President Vladimir Putin's announcement about the missile's combat readiness. While all three articles are from the same outlet, they provide complementary details on the events.

Key Claims

Notification of Sarmat Test

According to TASS, Peskov stated that Russia "of course" sent necessary notifications to the US and other countries regarding the Sarmat test. The report explains that, under international agreements, notifications for intercontinental ballistic missile launches are sent through the National Center for Nuclear Risk Reduction, which operates automatically to avoid undue tension. This claim is attributed to Peskov and has not been independently verified by other outlets.

Sarmat Missile Capabilities

TASS reports that the Sarmat missile has a range exceeding 35,000 km and can travel along both ballistic and suborbital trajectories, "overcoming all existing and future missile defense systems." These technical details were noted by Putin, who called the Sarmat "the most powerful missile system in the world, four times stronger than the most effective Western systems." The figures and capabilities have not been confirmed by independent sources.

Deployment on Combat Alert

Three TASS articles consistently report that the Sarmat missile will be placed on combat alert by the end of this year. Putin announced this after receiving a report on the successful launch from Strategic Missile Forces Commander Sergey Karakayev. Putin congratulated the Ministry of Defense and all those involved in the missile's development, calling the launch an "unconditional success."

Foreign Reactions to the Test

Peskov, as quoted by TASS, said that no foreign governments gave an official response to the Sarmat test, although the media reaction was intense. He suggested that some countries refuse to acknowledge Russia's security achievements, while others attempt to downplay the missile's capabilities. This observation has not been corroborated by any official statements from foreign governments.

Perspectives

Kremlin's Stance on Ukraine Conflict

In the same TASS report, Peskov addressed several aspects of the Ukraine conflict. He stated that Russia and Ukraine are preparing a prisoner exchange, with the coordination of prisoner lists being the most challenging part of the process. He also said that only the United States currently serves as a mediator between Moscow and Kiev, and that European countries "neither want nor can serve as mediators" because they are "directly engaged in the war against Russia on Ukraine's side." Peskov further claimed that the criminal case against Andrey Yermak, the former head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's office, will not affect the peace process, and that the Kremlin is not closely monitoring that case.

These statements represent the Kremlin's position and have not been independently verified. The claims about EU involvement and US mediation are particularly contentious and lack corroboration from other sources.

Time Context

The TASS articles were published on May 12 and May 14, with the notification and deployment announcements on May 12 and Peskov's broader comments on May 14. The reports do not specify the exact date of the Sarmat test, but they refer to its successful launch. As of the publication of these articles, no official responses from the US or other countries to the Sarmat test had been reported by TASS or other outlets.