Russia has placed its Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile on combat alert, bringing a weapon capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Putin revealed the ICBM in a March 2018 speech where he touted a series of new modern weapons, but the first test launch was only conducted in April last year, two months after the start of the invasion. Putin has called Sarmat a “unique weapon” that would strengthen Russia’s military potential and force any country that threatens it “to think again. Separately, the meeting between Putin and Erdogan was confirmed for later today in Sochi. Erdogan has stated that the primary objective is to renew the grain deal.