Press Secretary of Russian President Dmitry Peskov commented on the statement of US leader Donald Trump, who instructed the Pentagon to immediately resume nuclear tests. The Kremlin representative reiterated the current moratorium on nuclear weapons testing.
“There is actually a current moratorium here. Trump in his statement mentioned that other countries are allegedly testing nuclear weapons. So far, we do not know that anyone is testing. And if somehow the Burevestnik test means anything, this is not a nuclear test of any kind,” Peskov told reporters at a news conference.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated: if someone leaves the nuclear testing moratorium, Moscow will act depending on the situation, the Kremlin representative emphasized.
Mr. Peskov added that the United States had not informed Russia of its intention to resume nuclear tests. The Kremlin does not notice a new round of arms race between Russia and the United States.
In contacts with Washington, the need for specialized negotiations on nuclear disarmament was repeatedly mentioned.
The president's press secretary clarified: “This is a very complex topic and negotiations on this topic are always extended over time. But detailed negotiations with that expert have not yet been conducted.”
The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) has been signed by most countries – 184 countries. It banned explosive testing of nuclear weapons.
The US has signed the CTBT but has not ratified it. Russia withdrew its ratification of the 2023 deal due to Washington's refusal to ratify it.
