Putin orders study on possible nuclear tests amid U.S. actions

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday ordered government ministries, security services and civilian agencies to gather information and draft proposals on preparing for possible nuclear weapons tests, saying the instruction followed recent remarks and actions by the United States. The order, discussed at a Security Council meeting in Moscow, came after Defence Minister Andrei Belousov told the president it would be prudent to begin preparations immediately and noted that Russia's Novaya Zemlya test range in the Arctic could host detonations on short notice.

"I am instructing the foreign ministry, the defence ministry, the special services and relevant civilian agencies to do everything possible to collect additional information on the issue, analyse it at the Security Council and make agreed proposals on the possible start of work on the preparation of nuclear weapons tests," Putin said. Belousov told the meeting that Washington's comments and actions made preparation for fullscale tests advisable.

The move follows public remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump saying he had instructed the Pentagon to restart testing of U.S. nuclear weapons "on an equal basis" with Russia...