Merkel, Trump Voice Concern over Putin’s ‘Invincible’ Weapons Declaration

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump. (AP)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump. (AP)
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Merkel, Trump Voice Concern over Putin’s ‘Invincible’ Weapons Declaration

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump. (AP)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump. (AP)

US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced their concern on Friday over Russian President Vladimir Putin's claim that Moscow was developing new "invincible" weapons, Berlin said Friday.

"The chancellor and the president voiced concern about Russian President Putin's latest remarks on arms development and its negative impact on international arms control efforts," said a statement by the German chancellery. Merkel and Trump addressed their concerns via telephone.

Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert said the German government was "worried about the entire security policy of Russia".

This ranged from "the blatant violations of international law through the annexation of the Crimea ... to threatening behavior against neighboring states to the deliberately undermining arms control agreements", he said.

Putin unveiled the new arsenal Thursday in a state of the nation address, and showed a series of video montages of missiles crossing mountains and oceans, heading over the Atlantic before striking the US eastern seaboard.

The United States on Thursday accused Moscow of openly breaching Cold War-era treaties by developing what Putin called a new generation of "invincible" hypersonic weapons and submarines.

NATO later condemned Putin’s announcement, saying it was “counterproductive.”

"Russian statements threatening to target Allies are unacceptable and counterproductive," NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said in a statement.

She said the alliance would press ahead with its twin-track approach with Russia -- dialogue paired with strong deterrence and defense.

Moscow has been angered by NATO's expansion into former Soviet satellite states in eastern Europe and Putin warned that Russia would respond to any attack on one of its allies, though he said it would only ever be defensive in nature.



Pakistan: Intelligence Suggests Indian Military Action Likely Soon

Indian paramilitary soldiers patrol as they guard at a busy market in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)
Indian paramilitary soldiers patrol as they guard at a busy market in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)
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Pakistan: Intelligence Suggests Indian Military Action Likely Soon

Indian paramilitary soldiers patrol as they guard at a busy market in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)
Indian paramilitary soldiers patrol as they guard at a busy market in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)

Pakistan said on Wednesday it has "credible intelligence" that India intends to launch military action soon, as tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors escalate following a deadly attack on tourists in Indian Kashmir.
In the April 22 attack, the assailants segregated men, asked their names and targeted Hindus before shooting them at close range in the Pahalgam area, killing 26 people, officials and survivors said.
India has identified the three attackers, including two Pakistani nationals, as "terrorists" waging a violent revolt in Muslim-majority Kashmir. Islamabad has denied any role and called for a neutral investigation.
The old rivals, born out of British colonial India in 1947, have unleashed measures against each other after the attack, with India putting the critical Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance and Pakistan closing its airspace to Indian airlines.
Pakistan has said it had "credible intelligence" that India intends to carry out military action against it in the "next 24-36 hours on the pretext of baseless and concocted allegations of involvement in the Pahalgam incident".
India's foreign and defense ministries did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.
In a statement early on Wednesday, Islamabad said it condemned terrorism in all forms and will respond "assuredly and decisively" to any military action from India.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to pursue and punish the Pahalgam attackers.
India's cabinet committee on security (CCS), consisting of Modi and his interior, defense, home and finance ministers is scheduled to meet later in the day, a government source told Reuters.
This would be the second such meeting of the CCS since the attack on April 22.
Modi has told his military chiefs they have the freedom to decide the country's response to the Pahalgam attack, another government source said.
Small arms fire between the two armies has spread to more points along the frontier between the two countries.
The Indian army said it responded to "unprovoked" firing from multiple Pakistan army posts around midnight on Tuesday, the sixth consecutive violation of their ceasefire agreement.
It gave no further details and reported no casualties. The Pakistani military did not respond to a request for comment.