President Vladimir Putin’s instruction to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the special services to submit proposals on the advisability of preparing for nuclear weapons tests is an unambiguous signal in response to the “muscle-flexing” from the United States.
Trump’s statements, as I said, could open a “Pandora’s box” of “nuclear warheads,” trigger a chain reaction, and destabilize the sphere of global strategic stability. Russia has so far maintained its commitment to a moratorium on nuclear testing, despite withdrawing its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). But this will only remain the case as long as parity is maintained and there is no threat to our country’s security.
The issue is indeed serious. All responsibility for any possible escalation will not lie with Russia. If, as a result, we have to resume nuclear testing, it will be solely a retaliatory measure.
