The Russian president instructed the foreign and defense ministries, as well as the security services and civilian authorities, to develop proposals for the preparation of nuclear weapons testing.
At the same time, Vladimir Putin emphasized that Russia does not intend to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (CTBT).
“Even in my speech at the Federal Assembly in 2023, I drew attention to the fact that if the United States or other states that are parties to the treaty conduct such experiments, then Russia must respond in an appropriate way,” the president stressed.
At a meeting of the Russian Security Council, Defense Minister Andrey Belousov suggested to the president that preparations for nuclear tests begin immediately. According to the head of the ministry, this would be a response to the actions of the United States. Belousov announced that the American side is working on a new nuclear intercontinental missile that can travel 13,000 kilometers.
Valery Gerasimov, the chief of staff of the Russian Armed Forces, warned at the meeting that the United States could restart its nuclear tests. He called it worrying that there were no official comments from the American side on the relevant statements of President Donald Trump.
The United States tested its Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile on Wednesday. This comes a week after Trump announced plans to restart nuclear testing. The US president has effectively claimed that Russia and China are secretly conducting nuclear tests and that the US should not fall behind.
