RUSSIA: Putin-"We Will Have To Take Retaliatory Action If Nuclear Tests Resume"

Chairing a meeting of the permanent National Security Council, President Vladimir Putin says that US President Donald Trump's comments regarding the US resuming nuclear testing are "a serious issue". Says Russia "has always strictly observed its obligations under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and will continue to do so," but also asked departments "to submit proposals on the possibility of preparing for nuclear weapons tests". Says that Russia will "have to take retaliatory action" if other countries engage in nuclear tests. 

• Defence Minister Andrey Belousov says the "US is building up strategic weapons [and] could destroy global strategic safety if they abandon the nuclear testing moratorium." Belousov: "We should sustain our nuclear potential. It is necessary to immediately begin preparations for nuclear tests...Russia must maintain its nuclear arsenal in readiness."
• Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Valery Gerasimov, says, "We may lose time if we are not prepared", as "Washington is aiming to hold nuclear tests" and preparations for nuclear tests can take "several months to several years."
• On 2 Nov, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright [whose department is responsible for nuclear tests] said regarding the tests, "These are not nuclear explosions. These are what we call non-critical explosions", concerning the other parts of nuclear weapons. Trump has alleged that China, Russia, as well as other nuclear countries like North Korea and Pakistan are conducting nuclear tests.
• Any resumption in critical nuclear testing by the US or Russia would undoubtedly mark the most significant security escalation between global great powers in decades.