He russian presidentVladimir Putin ordered the Government this Wednesday to prepare a report on the possible resumption of nuclear testsafter his American counterpart, Donald Trump, mentioned the option of resuming atomic weapons tests.
Putin instructed the defense and foreign ministries, together with intelligence services and other civilian agencies, to “present a consensual proposal on the possible beginning of preparations for nuclear weapons tests.”
This was reported during an extraordinary session of the Russian Security Council, broadcast live on state television, he said. EFE.
However, the president He stressed that Moscow maintains its commitment not to carry out nuclear tests as long as other powers do not do so.a position that he reaffirmed when remembering his 2023 speech before the Federal Assembly:
“If the United States or any other state participating in the corresponding agreement conducts such tests, then Russia will also have to take appropriate response steps,” he said at the time.
Defense Minister proposes to act “immediately”
During the meeting, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov suggested Putin immediately begin preparations for “large-scale” tests.
“The preparation of forces and means in the central polygon in the Nueva Zembla archipelago makes it possible to guarantee its completion in a short period of time,” he stated.
Belousov argued that Washington could soon resume its nuclear testspointing out that “the US carries out an accelerated modernization of its offensive strategic weapons.”
He added that Washington carries out maneuvers that simulate “preventive nuclear attacks against Russian territory”, such as the so-called Global Thunder, held last October.
As he explained, The US is working on the development of a new Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of 13 thousand kilometers.
The Trump Administration It is also focused on building a Columbia nuclear submarine, a B-21 Raider heavy bomber, and nuclear-powered cruise missiles.
The minister added that the US Golden Dome program provides for both the interception of enemy missiles and their preventive destruction before launch.
Besides, accused Washington of planning the deployment of hypersonic missiles in Europe and Asia-Pacific Dark Eagle, with a range of 5,500 kilometers:
“The flight time from the territory of Germany (…) to the facilities in Central Russia will be about 6-7 minutes,” he warned.
The end of the treaties and Soviet memory
Belousov also stressed that the United States has abandoned several international agreements on arms control since 2022, which, according to him, “may be a logical step by Washington to destroy the global system of strategic stability in the world.”
Tensions increased after Trump, before meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, will mention the possibility of resuming nuclear tests.
This came just two weeks after Russia carried out atomic maneuvers and announced the launch of a Burevestnik cruise missile and a Poseidon unmanned submarine, both with nuclear propulsion.
In November 2023, Putin signed the revocation of the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), although it maintained the moratorium on such tests.
Russia continues to launch ballistic and intercontinental missiles, but has not carried out nuclear tests since the dissolution of the USSR in 1991.
Between 1949 and 1990, the Soviet Union carried out 715 tests for military purposes and 124 for peaceful purposes at the sites of Semipalatinsk (Kazakhstan), Novaya Zemlya (Arctic), Kapustin Yar (near the Caspian) and Totskoye (Urals).
The last Soviet test was carried out on October 24, 1990 in Novaya Zemlya, where eight charges with a total power of 70 kilotons were detonated.
