The Economist called the ‘Oreshnik’ test an attempt to convince the West to avoid ecalation

The combat testing of the medium-range ballistic missile “Oreshnik” on the territory of the Ukrainian defense enterprise “Yuzhmash” was an attempt by Russia to persuade Western countries to refrain from intensifying their involvement in the Ukrainian conflict.

This is stated in an article by the British magazine The Economist.

The publication notes that the “primary audience” for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s message appears to have been the administration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, which “is still shaping its approach” to the conflict.

According to the magazine, Moscow, which published a new nuclear doctrine on November 19, is signaling that it could raise the stakes in response to Ukraine’s and the West’s military efforts.

The use of “Oreshnik” itself, the magazine writes, has become “part of a new era of warfare involving missile weaponry.”