Putin Responds in Kind to Trump’s Nuclear Testing Plans

President Trump last week directed the Pentagon to resume nuclear weapons testing for the first time since 1992 — a move that has prompted a sharp response from Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday instructed his officials to draft proposals that would prepare the country to potentially restart its own nuclear tests. Speaking during a televised Security Council meeting in Moscow that was initially meant to address transportation security, Putin shifted the discussion to the nuclear issue, saying that if the United States or other nations move forward with nuclear testing, Russia would be “required to take appropriate retaliatory measures,” according to NBC News.

Putin emphasized that Russia would not act first but would only begin nuclear tests in response to similar actions by the U.S. He ordered his foreign and defense ministries “to do everything possible to gather additional information on this matter, analyze it in the Security Council, and submit coordinated proposals on the possible commencement of preparations for nuclear weapons testing.”

Several senior Russian officials expressed support for the idea. Defense Minister Andrei Belousov called for immediate preparations, while Russia’s top general cautioned that delays could hinder the country’s readiness, noting that preparations for nuclear tests “can take several months to several years,” depending on their type.

Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Alexander Darchiev, told the council that he had sought clarification from American officials regarding President Trump’s directive but received a “no comment” response from both the White House and State Department. Those representatives reportedly said they would relay the inquiry to their superiors and respond “if it will be deemed necessary.”

Some nuclear experts had previously warned that resuming U.S. nuclear testing could spur similar actions by Russia and China.

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