Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday that President Vladimir Putin’s directive to explore the feasibility of resuming nuclear weapons testing is currently being implemented. The move follows Putin’s announcement during a Security Council meeting on November 5, where he instructed key ministries and intelligence agencies to prepare recommendations in case the United States withdraws from its moratorium under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
Putin’s orders under implementation
Lavrov confirmed that the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and several other government agencies have begun acting on Putin’s instructions.
“The instruction given by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Security Council meeting on November 5 has been accepted for implementation and is being worked on,” Lavrov told reporters, according to state-run news agencies TASS and RIA Novosti.
He added that once the study is complete, the public will be informed of the results. The review will include input from the Ministry of Defence, intelligence services, and civilian agencies, all of which have been directed to evaluate the potential need for nuclear testing should the US proceed with its own.
No clarity from Washington yet
Lavrov also revealed that Moscow has not yet received any formal communication from Washington clarifying US President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about the possible resumption of nuclear tests.
“So far, we have not received any explanation of what President Donald Trump meant when he announced the resumption of nuclear tests,” Lavrov was quoted as saying by TASS.
Trump’s statement, made last week, suggested that the US administration plans to resume testing nuclear assets for the first time in over three decades. His comments have caused renewed tension among global powers, raising fears of a potential rollback of decades of arms control progress.
Putin: Russia will act only if US tests first
During the televised Security Council meeting, President Putin stressed that Russia would not act unilaterally. “We will only resume nuclear tests if the United States does so first,” he asserted.
The Russian leader has consistently accused the US of undermining international arms control treaties and creating conditions that could lead to an arms race reminiscent of the Cold War.
Putin’s directive to study possible nuclear testing comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions, including US-China competition, the conflict in Ukraine, and strained relations between Moscow and NATO. The timing of Trump’s nuclear test announcement, just days before his scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on October 30, further underscores the strategic posturing at play among global powers.
Background: The CTBT and global moratorium
The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1996, bans all nuclear explosions for both civilian and military purposes. Although Russia ratified the treaty in 2000, the United States signed but never ratified it, keeping a degree of strategic flexibility.
Both nations have observed a voluntary moratorium on nuclear testing for more than 30 years, relying instead on computer simulations and subcritical experiments to assess their nuclear stockpiles. However, concerns have grown that renewed testing by any major nuclear power could trigger similar actions by others, including China, North Korea, and India, destabilising the fragile nuclear balance.
Experts warn of a dangerous precedent
International security experts have warned that the revival of nuclear testing could undermine decades of non-proliferation efforts. “If the US resumes testing, Russia and other nuclear states may follow, setting off a domino effect,” said Pavel Felgenhauer, a Moscow-based defence analyst. “This could push global arms control frameworks into collapse.”
Analysts also note that the move may be aimed at sending a political signal rather than a military necessity, as both countries already maintain modern and capable nuclear arsenals.
Next steps and international reactions
Russia’s statement comes as Western nations and international observers await Washington’s clarification on Trump’s remarks. The United Nations has repeatedly urged both the US and Russia to uphold their testing moratoriums and renew dialogue on strategic stability and arms control.
Meanwhile, the European Union and China have reaffirmed their commitment to the CTBT, warning that any violation of the treaty would have “severe consequences for global security.”
Lavrov concluded his remarks by emphasising that Russia’s approach remains “measured and defensive,” reiterating that Moscow’s actions will depend entirely on Washington’s next move.