Moscow: Russia will “act accordingly” if the United States resumes nuclear testing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated, as Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoygu announced a review of the feasibility of nuclear tests following recent statements from US officials. Peskov was responding to remarks by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who indicated that Washington’s renewed testing directive “includes delivery systems,” after President Donald Trump instructed the Pentagon on Oct. 29 to restart nuclear tests “immediately.”
According to Anadolu Agency, Rubio did not explicitly confirm that full-scale tests were under consideration. Peskov noted that if the US is indeed withdrawing from the test ban, it confirms their intentions, arguing that any testing would break a period in which a comprehensive moratorium had held. He emphasized that President Vladimir Putin’s order on Nov. 5 was not to begin preparations for a test, but to gather information and “examine the advisability” of such preparations in light of US moves.
In a separate interview with RIA Novosti, Shoygu stated that Russian agencies and Security Council experts had already started “modeling possible responses to both existing challenges and their potential evolution,” emphasizing that Moscow cannot “sit idly by” as the arms-control system weakens. He remarked that the White House has yet to provide “a comprehensive explanation” regarding recent US statements on nuclear testing and argued that Russia expects Washington to continue respecting its commitments under long-standing test-ban frameworks.
Shoygu asserted that Russia is prepared for any development but will under no circumstances allow a new arms race to be provoked. He also claimed that European states are escalating “bellicose statements and plans,” insisting Russia is monitoring EU and NATO decisions closely and adjusting its military development accordingly.