Overview
- Sergey Lavrov reported no further contacts with Secretary of State Marco Rubio after their Oct. 20 call and said expected interagency meetings never materialized.
- Moscow has received no explanation of what President Trump meant by talk of tests, whether full nuclear blasts, delivery-system trials, or subcritical work.
- Lavrov called comments from U.S. figures suggesting tests could serve geopolitical goals a troubling break from the principle that nuclear war is unwinnable, citing remarks by Pentagon nominee Robert Kadlec.
- Russia rejected claims it has resumed nuclear testing and noted both countries use seismic monitoring, with no global signs of preparations since North Korea’s 2017 test.
- He said Russia remains committed to the Anchorage understandings, described its non-paper as non-provocative, and saw no connection between the Budapest summit question and the testing debate.