(MENAFN) Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow is ready to resume nuclear testing—but only if other countries take that step first, according to reports.

The statement came during a session of the Russian Security Council, which convened after reports emerged alleging that the United States had carried out a nuclear test. Washington has not officially conducted such a test since 1992.

Putin instructed national security bodies to verify the claims and, if confirmed, to make necessary preparations for Russia’s own tests. The last time Moscow conducted one was in 1990, during the Soviet era.

Reaffirming an earlier stance, Putin said: "Back in 2023, it was stated that if the US or other states participating in the relevant treaty were to conduct such tests, Russia would also need to take appropriate responsive measures accordingly."

He further directed multiple state institutions to assess the situation: "In connection with this, I instruct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Defense Ministry of the Russian Federation, special services, and related civilian agencies to gather additional information on this issue, analyze it at the Security Council forum, and submit coordinated proposals concerning the possibility of initiating preparations for nuclear weapon testing activities."

The remarks came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump declared via his Truth Social account that he had ordered the Pentagon to begin nuclear testing. "Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately," Trump wrote on Oct. 31.

During the same Russian Security Council meeting, Defense Minister Andrey Belousov recommended that preparations begin for potential large-scale nuclear tests, citing recent developments in U.S. nuclear policy. He pointed out that the testing facilities on Novaya Zemlya—an Arctic archipelago—were already capable of supporting operations with little delay.

Novaya Zemlya previously served as the site of the Soviet Union’s detonation of the Tsar Bomba in 1961, the most powerful nuclear explosion in history.

Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov emphasized the urgency of readiness, stating that "if we do not take appropriate measures now, then time and opportunities for a timely response to the actions of the United States will be lost, since the time required to prepare for nuclear tests, depending on their type, ranges from several months to several years."

MENAFN06112025000045017640ID1110302772