Russia talks about the possibility of resuming nuclear testing

According to RT, at a cabinet meeting on November 5, Defense Minister Andrey Belousov told Russian President Vladimir Putin that Moscow "needs to respond to Washington's moves to ensure Russia's security."

"It is necessary to prepare for large-scale nuclear tests immediately," Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov stressed.

Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov. Photo: RIA Novosti.

President Putin reiterated that Russia has long said it will abide by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, provided other members do not violate the agreement.

"If the United States or other countries participating in the relevant treaty conduct such tests, then Russia will also have to take appropriate retaliatory measures," the Kremlin leader said.

President Putin further instructed all relevant government agencies, including the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry , to collect and analyze the necessary information on the US plans to restart nuclear tests before submitting proposals on "the possibility of starting preparations for nuclear weapons tests."

Previously, on October 30, US President Donald Trump said he had ordered the Pentagon to resume nuclear weapons testing.

President Trump accused Russia and China of conducting "secret" nuclear tests, but both Moscow and Beijing have denied the accusations. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi also said the nuclear watchdog had found no signs that Russia and China had conducted any nuclear tests.

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