On October 30, Russia’s TASS news agency reported that U.S. Vice President JD Vance told reporters that testing America’s nuclear arsenal was “necessary to ensure national security.”
Earlier, President Donald Trump had directed the Pentagon to immediately resume nuclear weapons testing, saying that “other nations are doing the same.”
“This is a vital part of our national security,” Vance said. “We must ensure our nuclear stockpile remains fully operational and in top condition — and President Trump simply wants to make sure we do that.”
In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow had not received any formal notification from Washington regarding plans to restart nuclear testing. He added that Russia had no information suggesting any other nation was conducting such tests, contrary to President Trump’s claim.
Referring to Russia’s recent tests of the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile and the Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drone, Peskov clarified that these did not constitute nuclear weapons tests.
“If President Trump considers the Burevestnik tests as nuclear tests by another country, that is entirely inaccurate,” he stated. “All nations continue to develop their defense systems, but that is not the same as conducting a nuclear test.”
Peskov stressed that Russia is closely monitoring any potential violations of the global moratorium on nuclear testing and will respond accordingly if such actions occur.
“The United States is a sovereign nation and has the right to make its own decisions,” he said. “However, President Vladimir Putin has made it clear that if anyone breaks the moratorium, Russia will respond in kind.”
At the United Nations, Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq, speaking on behalf of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, warned that global nuclear risks are already at an alarming level and urged all countries to avoid actions that could lead to escalation with catastrophic consequences.
He also reminded that “over 2,000 nuclear tests have been conducted over the past 80 years, leaving a devastating legacy,” emphasizing that “nuclear testing must never be permitted under any circumstances.”