Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Russia would consider resuming nuclear tests if the United States did so, convening a security council meeting after US President Donald Trump’s comments on testing.
The statement marks the latest episode of nuclear sabre-rattling between the world’s two largest atomic powers, after Putin and Trump failed to find ways to resolve the Ukraine conflict.
Putin ordered Russia’s defence and foreign ministries, as well as security services, to “gather information on this topic” and make “proposals on the possible start of preparation works for nuclear weapons tests”.
Russia has not conducted a nuclear test since 1990, the year before the collapse of the USSR.
Trump said on social media last week that he had instructed the Pentagon to “start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis” with Russia and China. It was unclear whether he was referring to tests involving nuclear warheads or not.
During the security council meeting, Putin was responding to Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, who suggested to “begin immediate preparations” for nuclear testing in the Arctic archipelago Novaya Zemlya.
The Russian leader has repeatedly said that if Washington carries out a nuclear test Moscow will do the same.
In October, Putin oversaw two tests of nuclear-capable weapons, which excluded atomic warheads.
Trump has been trying to end fighting between Russia and Ukraine since he returned to the White House in January.
Talks have yielded no progress however, and he has shown increasing frustration with Putin, who has rejected multiple calls for a ceasefire.
Aside for North Korea, no country has carried out an atomic weapon test involving a nuclear explosion in the 21st century.
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