(MENAFN) The Kremlin reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to a ban on nuclear weapons testing while cautioning that Moscow would act to maintain parity if other countries conduct such tests, according to remarks published Sunday by Russian media.

Speaking to Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said neither Russia nor China is currently testing nuclear weapons, emphasizing that Moscow remains committed to the moratorium.

“But, if another country does this, then we will be obliged to do so in order to maintain parity,” Peskov said, describing nuclear parity as “perhaps the most important component of the global security architecture of our time.”

The comments follow US President Donald Trump’s Oct. 31 announcement that he had instructed the Department of Defense to “immediately” begin nuclear weapons tests “on an equal basis” in response to “other countries' testing programs.” The United States has not conducted a nuclear test since 1992.

Three days later, Trump told media that North Korea is not the only nation testing nuclear weapons, claiming that Russia and China are also engaged in testing.

In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this week directed security officials to collect information and draft proposals regarding the potential for nuclear testing by Moscow. Russia last conducted nuclear tests in 1990, during the Soviet era.

China also reacted to Trump’s statements. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters that Beijing hopes the US will continue to uphold the nuclear testing moratorium.

In his interview with Zarubin, Peskov denied that Putin had ordered preparations for nuclear tests, emphasizing the need to determine first whether Moscow would have any reason to conduct them. He said any decision “must be well-founded and carefully considered.”

Peskov added that Russia requires clarification from Washington regarding Trump’s statements, describing them as “too serious” to remain ambiguous.

He also cautioned against interpreting Russia’s recent tests of the nuclear-powered Burevestnik missile and Poseidon unmanned underwater vehicle as nuclear tests. “Firstly, we're talking about the delivery vehicle, and we're not talking about a nuclear explosion. This is a nuclear propulsion system or engine, so these are completely different topics,” Peskov said, calling any contrary assessment “an extremely superficial and incorrect judgment” from an expert perspective.

MENAFN10112025000045017169ID1110319274