Putin orders nuclear weapons preparations

Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken action following US President Donald Trump's announcement last week that the US would resume nuclear weapons testing. Putin ordered senior officials to prepare proposals regarding potential nuclear weapons tests.

Putin stated that while Russia has always strictly adhered to its obligations under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, it would do the same if the US or any other nuclear power were to conduct such tests.

Putin said, "I instruct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, special services, and relevant civilian agencies to do everything possible to gather additional information on this matter, to have it analyzed by the Security Council, and to submit proposals regarding the initiation of potential work on preparing for nuclear weapons tests."

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov stated that Russia's test site in Novaya Zemlya could host nuclear weapons tests in a short period of time.

The US last conducted nuclear weapons tests in 1992, China and France in 1996, and the Soviet Union in 1990. Post-Soviet Russia has not conducted any nuclear weapons tests.