Kremlin States Putin Has Not Ordered Nuclear Test Preparations, Despite Security Council Discussion
Following reports from Radio Sloboda (RFE/RL), the Kremlin has stated that president Vladimir Putin has not issued an order to begin preparations for nuclear weapons tests, despite the issue being discussed at a recent Russian Security Council meeting.
During the meeting, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov proposed initiating preparations for nuclear tests at the Novaya Zemlya archipelago in the Arctic. This suggestion came in the context of recent statements by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who indicated the U.S. might resume nuclear testing “because othre countries are also conducting them.”
However, Alexander Bortnikov, head of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), noted uncertainty regarding Trump’s meaning. Consequently, Putin tasked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, intelligence agencies, and other relevant state institutions with submitting proposals outlining the feasibility of preparing for such tests.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov clarified Putin’s decision in an interview with state television VGTRK, stating, ”Frist, we need to understand whether we need it at all. It must be a very serious, reasoned and thought-out decision – and this is what our experts are dealing with now.” Peskov also indicated Moscow is seeking clarification on what trump specifically meant by his statement about other nations conducting nuclear tests.
Peskov firmly asserted, “We know for sure that neither Russia nor china is conducting any nuclear tests.” He also dismissed interpretations of recent tests involving the Burevestnik missile and the Poseidon underwater drone – both nuclear-powered systems – as nuclear tests, labeling such claims “unprofessional.”
Trump initially declared in late october that the United States would “immediately” begin testing nuclear weapons ”at the same level” as other nations, adding later to CBS News that he didn’t want the U.S. to be “the only country that doesn’t.” He did not, though, confirm a return to full-scale underground nuclear tests similar to those conducted before the 1990s.
The Kremlin continues to await an official clarification from washington.
RFE/RL notes that as the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian leadership has increasingly alluded to the possibility of using nuclear weapons. Russia has also taken steps including suspending the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty, deploying nuclear weapons in Belarus, modifying its nuclear doctrine, and reportedly developing new weapons systems - including Burevestnik and Poseidon – capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
