On April 20, the Russian military announced it had successfully executed the first test of its Sarmat liquid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Russia’s Defense Ministry said the launch proved the missile’s effectiveness “in all phases of its flight.” U.S. Defense Department Press Secretary John Kirby said that Russia had informed the United States about the launch and that the United States “did not deem the test to be a threat to the United States or its allies.”
