Putin Approves Preparations for Full-scale Nuclear Weapons Tests in Response to Possible U.S. Tests

Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov stated that he considers it appropriate to begin immediate preparations for full-scale nuclear tests on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago. He made this announcement at an operational meeting of the Security Council, RIA Novosti reports.

Belousov declared, that the United States is steadily withdrawing from nuclear deterrence agreements and is actively building up its strategic weapons. According to the minister, Washington intends to develop a new intercontinental missile, a strategic submarine, deploy missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region with a flight time to Central Russia of six to seven minutes, and also to recommission launch systems.

Putin agreed with Belousov and stated that Russia must respond if other participants in the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty decide to conduct nuclear tests.

“In this regard, I instruct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the special services, and the relevant civilian agencies to do everything necessary to gather additional information on the issue, conduct its analysis at the Security Council platform, and submit coordinated proposals on the possible start of preparations for nuclear weapons tests,” he said.

FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov asked Putin for time to thoroughly determine whether the United States truly intends to test nuclear weapons, and to submit his own proposals.

On October 30, U.S. President Donald Trump instructed the Pentagon to begin nuclear weapons tests. He made this statement ahead of a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“Because of the tremendous destructive power, I HATED to do it, but had no choice! Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years,” Trump said.

The last time the United States conducted nuclear weapons tests was in 1992. To resume them, the U.S. would need at least 36 months.

However, the United States has continued to test nuclear weapons delivery systems during this time. In particular, it became known today that Washington conducted a test of the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile. The unarmed ICBM covered a distance of about 4,200 miles.