The Russian president has ordered his generals to begin testing nuclear weapons in the wake of rhetoric from President Donald Trump. The autocrat insisted his country resume its program after more than three decades of not detonating a nuclear weapon. It comes as Trump announced he wanted his generals to “start testing our nuclear weapons on an equal basis.” Putin’s televised Security Council meeting with his top brass in Moscow saw him discuss Russia’s own escalation to regain parity with the U.S., NBC reports. The U.S. had been warned that if it “conduct[s] such tests, Russia would also be required to take appropriate retaliatory measures,” he said. He then told his leaders “to do everything possible to gather additional information on this matter, analyze it in the Security Council, and submit coordinated proposals on the possible commencement of preparations for nuclear weapons testing.” Several of Putin’s top officials are reportedly in favor of resumption. “We must respond appropriately to Washington’s actions… to begin preparations for full-scale nuclear testing immediately, ” said Defense Minister Andrei Belousov. On Sunday, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told Fox News, “These are not nuclear explosions.” “I’m saying that we’re going to test nuclear weapons like other countries do, yes,” Trump had said previously. “Russia’s testing, and China’s testing, but they don’t talk about it.”
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