Putin Orders Nuclear Test Preparations as U.S. Resumes Testing

President Vladimir Putin convened a briefing with the permanent members of Russia’s Security Council to address evolving U.S. nuclear policy and outline possible countermeasures. He described President Donald Trump’s recent statements on resuming nuclear testing as a grave development.

Sergei Naryshkin, director of the Foreign Intelligence Service, informed the council that Washington had provided no substantive reply to Moscow’s formal inquiry regarding the announced plans. Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov added that the United States is actively preparing to conduct nuclear tests.

Defense Minister Andrei Belousov urged immediate steps to ready Russia for full-scale nuclear explosions. He further warned that the U.S. intends to deploy missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region capable of reaching central Russia in just six to seven minutes.

Putin tasked the Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry, and intelligence services with collecting detailed intelligence, performing a comprehensive analysis, and drafting concrete proposals for test preparations.

In closing, the president reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty but stressed that Moscow would be compelled to respond accordingly if other nations proceed with nuclear testing.