Overview
- Defense Minister Andrey Belousov told a Security Council meeting that Russia should immediately prepare for full-scale nuclear tests at the Novaya Zemlya range.
- President Vladimir Putin directed the foreign, defense and intelligence ministries, along with civilian agencies, to submit proposals on the feasibility of preparing for tests.
- Putin reaffirmed adherence to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and warned Russia would respond if other countries resume explosive testing.
- Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov said preparations for such tests could take from several months to several years.
- The moves follow U.S. signals that included President Donald Trump’s instruction to begin nuclear weapons testing and a recent unarmed Minuteman III ICBM launch reported by Newsweek.