Foreign Minister Lavrov Affirms Russia Is Not Testing Nuclear Weapons

JAKARTA - Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed Russia did not conduct nuclear weapons tests, saying the United States President's statement regarding the trials carried out by Moscow and China, so Washington had to follow suit, as a misunderstanding and noted Moscow had asked for clarification.

"What US President Donald Trump said about the alleged resumption of trials in Russia and China does not reflect the reality if we discuss nuclear weapons testing," he told a news conference in Moscow.

Foreign Minister Lavrov further underlined that Russia's latest test involving the Burevestnik cruise missile and the Poseidon underwater drone did not violate the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Agreement, as the system was powered by nuclear energy but did not trigger a nuclear explosion.

"Other test form, including 'subcritical' experiments without chain nuclear reactions and delivery system tests, has never been banned. We are working to clear up this issue," he added.

As previously reported, President Trump made an announcement regarding the continued nuclear weapons tests in a post on Truth Social, ahead of meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea.

"Since other countries are testing the program, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our nuclear weapons equally. That process will begin soon," wrote President Trump, quoted by Reuters.

Then, on his way back to Washington President Trump said trials were needed to ensure the US could offset rival nuclear powers.

"With other countries conducting trials, I think it is appropriate for us to do so as well," said President Trump in Air Force One, adding that the location of the nuclear test would be determined later.

Separately, the Executive Secretary of the Organization for the Prohibitive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBTO) based in Vienna Robert Floyd expressed his concern.

"Any explosive nuclear weapons test by any country will be dangerous and disrupt the stability of global non-proliferation efforts as well as international peace and security," he said.

Responding to media claims regarding his alleged dispute with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Lavrov commented,

"There are a lot of lies here," he said.

The diplomat then voiced concern over Robert Kadlec's comments, a deputy US defense minister candidate, highlighting his public statement hinting at a possible deployment of nuclear weapons to tackle regional disputes.