Putin Signals Potential Nuclear Testing in Retaliation to U.S. Military Actions

Russia might prepare to restart its nuclear weapons testing program if the United States conducts tests first, President Vladimir Putin stated on Wednesday, reacting to comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding testing.

Last week, Trump noted on social media that he had directed the Pentagon to «begin testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal footing» with Russia and China. It remained unclear whether he meant tests that included nuclear warheads.

«I am directing the Foreign Ministry, the Defense Ministry, the intelligence services, and relevant civilian agencies to gather further intelligence, analyze it at the Security Council, and present coordinated recommendations for potential preparations for nuclear weapons testing,» Putin declared on Wednesday.

Russia has not officially conducted a nuclear test since 1990, the year preceding the dissolution of the U.S.S.R.

The two largest nuclear nations signed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 1996, a significant pact aimed at completely prohibiting all nuclear tests.

While Moscow ratified the CTBT in 2000, Washington has not finalized it into law, and Putin rescinded Russia’s ratification in 2023.

«Russia has consistently adhered to its commitments under the CTBT, and we have no intention of deviating from them,» Putin assured senior security and defense officials on Wednesday.

«Nevertheless, if the United States or any other signatories to the treaty conduct such tests, then Russia must also take necessary actions,» Putin cautioned.

Defense Minister Andrei Belousov called for immediate readiness in the Arctic archipelago of Novaya Zemlya, pointing to U.S. weapons modernization and recent statements from high-ranking U.S. officials.

«It would be advisable to start preparations for comprehensive nuclear testing without delay,» he told Putin. «The Novaya Zemlya testing site is ready for rapid execution of such tests.»

The Kremlin later minimized Putin’s remarks, clarifying that he did not order preparations for new nuclear tests.

Putin simply «instructed that the feasibility of starting preparations for such tests be evaluated. That is what will be done now,» said spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

In October, Putin oversaw two routine tests of weapons capable of carrying nuclear payloads, which did not involve actual atomic warheads.

Since regaining the White House in January, Trump has attempted to mediate peace between Russia and Ukraine, but there has been no substantial progress in negotiations. He has expressed growing frustration with Putin, who has dismissed numerous calls for a ceasefire.

No country, other than North Korea, has conducted a nuclear weapon test involving an atomic explosion in the 21st century.

AFP contributed reporting.