Maps
Magazine

WORLD NEWS

Putin Orders Review of Nuclear Testing After Trump Announces U.S. Resumption
President Putin has directed Russian officials to prepare proposals for possible nuclear weapons tests, warning that Moscow will respond if the U.S. or any other power resumes testing. Russia’s Arctic site Novaya Zemlya is on standby.
MH
by Muhammad Hashir
2025-11-05
Putin Orders Review of Nuclear Testing After Trump Announces U.S. Resumption

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday instructed his top officials to prepare detailed proposals for possible nuclear weapons testing, following remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump last week indicating that Washington plans to resume such tests.

Putin emphasized that Russia has strictly abided by the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) since its inception. However, he cautioned that Moscow would not remain passive if any nuclear power — particularly the United States — conducts a test.

“If the United States or any other nuclear state conducts a test, then Russia will do so too,” Putin stated during a meeting with senior defense and security officials.

Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov briefed the president, saying that recent American statements and actions made it “advisable to prepare for full-scale nuclear tests immediately.”

Belousov confirmed that Russia’s Arctic testing site at Novaya Zemlya remains fully functional and could host tests on short notice.

Putin directed the Foreign Ministry, Defence Ministry, intelligence agencies, and relevant civilian departments to gather intelligence, assess global developments, and present coordinated proposals on potential nuclear testing.

“All agencies must do everything possible to collect additional information on the issue, analyse it at the Security Council, and make agreed proposals on the possible start of work on nuclear weapons tests,” Putin said.

If carried out, it would mark Russia’s first nuclear test since 1990, when the Soviet Union last conducted one before its collapse.

The United States last tested in 1992, while China and France conducted their final tests in 1996. Post-Soviet Russia, despite inheriting the Soviet arsenal, has never conducted a live nuclear test, relying instead on computer simulations and subcritical experiments.

Analysts warn that any move by Russia or the United States to resume nuclear testing could spark a new global arms race, undermining decades of non-proliferation efforts and further straining already tense U.S.-Russia relations.
Tagged:

Russia

putin

Trump

USRussiaTensions

NuclearTests
Share News: