* The Pentagon canceled this weekend's test of the Minuteman III intercontinental missiles from California
* Department of Defense spokesman John Kirby insisted it was to show 'restraint' and is 'not a backwards step'
* He also confirmed the U.S. would not join Putin in putting their nuclear arsenal in a state of readiness
* 'We did not take this decision lightly but instead to demonstrate that we are a responsible nuclear power,' Defense Press Secretary John Kirby said Wednesday
* He announced the move in his briefing as a missile struck an area near Kyiv's southern main rail station
* The U.S. has also warned that the Kremlin has deployed vacuum bombs and cluster munitions
* The $7,000,000 Minuteman III ballistic missiles can travel 6,000 miles at 15,000 mph
* Earlier, bodies of five people killed in a strike on Kyiv's television tower were today piled into a van by police
* Mayor Vitali Klitschko said defences are being built and that 'we will fight' to stop the city being captured
The Pentagon announced Wednesday it will delay its nuclear missile test scheduled for this weekend to avoid angering Russian President Vladimir Putin as he continued shelling Ukrainian cities and civilian and military casualties continued to climb.
Defense Department Spokesperson John Kirby said the move is a show of 'restraint' after the Russian leader put his country's nuclear forces on high alert and amid warnings from the U.S. he is deploying vacuum bombs and cluster munitions across the border.
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WNU Editor: The Kremlin's focus is on prosecuting the war in Ukraine, not on the cancellation on a US missile test.
And as for lessening tensions.
The Kremlin's view is that the US has declared all-out economic war against Russia, is supplying lethal weapons to Ukraine to kill Russian soldiers, and to top it all off .... Washington just seized/stole $650 billion in Russian assets. The Kremlin couldn't care less on the U.S. administration making a big deal on the temporary cancellation of a missile test.
U.S. Cancels Ballistic Missile Test To Avoid Escalating Nuclear Tensions With Russia
Pentagon postpones nuclear missile test launch amid Ukraine crisis -- AP
Pentagon postpones ICBM test amid tensions with Russia -- FOX News
U.S. Postpones Long Range Missile Test Amid Nuclear Tensions With Russia -- Time
US delays ballistic missile test in case of Russian misinterpretation -- The Independent
Pentagon postpones missile test launch to deescalate Russia tensions -- The Hill
Pentagon Delays Nuclear Missile Test Sending Message After Putin Put Russian Arsenal on Alert -- Military.com
U.S. cancels ballistic missile test to avoid escalating Russia tensions -- Axios