Sergey Lavrov announced Russia’s initiatives to resume nuclear tests. The preparations follow President Vladimir Putin’s directive of November 5.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced on Saturday that, on the orders of President Vladimir Putin, he is working on the preparation of proposals for the possible resumption of nuclear weapons tests, Russian state news agency TASS reported. TASR took over the report from the Reuters agency.
“As for the instruction of President Vladimir Putin at the Security Council meeting on November 5, it has been accepted for implementation and is being worked on. The public will be informed of the results,” Lavrov declared.
Resumption of nuclear tests
On Wednesday, the Russian president ordered the development of proposals for the resumption of nuclear weapons tests by the foreign and defense ministers and top military and security officials.
Putin issued his order in response to US President Donald Trump’s announcement that the US would resume testing nuclear weapons. Lavrov also confirmed on Saturday that Russia had not received any explanation from the US regarding Trump’s order, TASS reports.
Russian reactions to American actions
Putin claims that Russia has always strictly adhered to its obligations under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). If the United States or any other nuclear power were to actually start testing nuclear weapons again, Russia would, according to Putin, start as well.
Last Sunday, in an interview with CBS News, Trump said that, according to him, both Beijing and Moscow are conducting nuclear tests, they are just not talking about it.
Plans for denuclearization
During a speech at the American Business Forum in Miami on Wednesday, the US president said that he is “maybe” working with China and Russia on a denuclearization plan. He stated this without further details.
The former Soviet Union conducted its last nuclear test in 1990, the United States in 1992, China and France in 1996.
