Putin Demands Plans for New Nuclear Tests After Trump’s Comments

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his top security and defense officials to draw up plans for the possible resumption of nuclear weapons testing—breaking a decades-long global pause. The move comes directly in response to President Donald Trump’s recent comments that the United States would “immediately” restart nuclear tests for the first time since 1992.

During a televised Security Council meeting in Moscow on Wednesday, Putin said he had warned Washington and its allies that Russia would not sit by if the U.S. resumed testing.

“If they conduct such tests, Russia will also be required to take appropriate retaliatory measures,” Putin said. He instructed the foreign and defense ministries to collect intelligence, assess the situation, and submit recommendations on how and when Russia should begin preparing for live nuclear tests.

Russia’s defense leadership quickly backed the move. Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said Russia should be ready to restart full-scale testing “immediately.” Gen. Valery Gerasimov, the country’s top military officer, warned that preparation for such tests could take months or even years, meaning Russia must start now if it wants to match the U.S. decision in real time.

Russian officials also attempted to reach out to Washington for clarification. According to Sergey Naryshkin, Russia’s foreign intelligence chief, the U.S. State Department and White House declined to offer details, telling Moscow they would “follow up if necessary.”

The U.S. has not conducted a live nuclear test since 1992, and restarting the process would require significant preparation. Nuclear scientists and nonproliferation experts have criticized Trump’s directive, saying it risks sparking a global nuclear arms race without providing meaningful strategic advantages.

Meanwhile, members of Trump’s own administration have struggled to explain what kind of tests the U.S. actually plans to conduct. Trump hinted at underground explosive tests but did not confirm details. His energy secretary later suggested the tests would not involve nuclear warheads, adding to the confusion.

Russia, however, is preparing for the possibility that the U.S. means the real thing. Officials noted that Russia’s primary test site in the Novaya Zemlya archipelago is already in a state of readiness and could support nuclear tests on short notice.

Putin has repeatedly invoked Russia’s nuclear capabilities during the war in Ukraine, warning the West against deeper involvement. Last month, he claimed Russia successfully tested a nuclear-powered cruise missile reportedly capable of flying for hours and evading U.S. defenses.

The latest escalation underscores a rapidly intensifying nuclear standoff. For now, both sides are watching the other closely—and preparing for a return to a nuclear era the world had hoped was permanently in the past.

Screenshot Via Truth Social –

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Philip O'Connor

A legal professional by education, and a stickler for rules, Philip brings rules and regulations within check for our website. He portrays the legal pitfalls, court injustices, as well as the status for high power criminal proceedings that are making waves across the globe. He also delves into human rights violations and all regulatory policies that affect the daily life of citizens of the nation.