Russia has warned that it will respond accordingly if the United States violates a moratorium on nuclear testing. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov made the statement after US President Donald Trump announced plans to resume nuclear arms trials, citing strategic competition with Russia and China.

The US president claimed that the move is in response to “other countries’ testing programs,” although Peskov noted that Russia is not aware of any such tests. Peskov also clarified that Russia’s recent testing of the Burevestnik cruise missile, which is powered by a small nuclear reactor, does not constitute a nuclear test. The Burevestnik is a state-of-the-art nuclear-capable cruise missile with a virtually unlimited range.

The US has not conducted nuclear testing since 1992, when it implemented a Congress-mandated moratorium. Russia last tested a nuclear weapon in 1990, during the Soviet era. The moratorium has been in place to prevent the proliferation of nuclear arms and reduce the risk of nuclear conflict.

According to a recent report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the US currently has 5,177 nuclear warheads, while Russia has 5,459. China’s nuclear arsenal is projected to reach 1,500 by 2035. The resumption of nuclear testing by the US could potentially lead to an escalation of the nuclear arms race, with significant implications for global security.

Peskov emphasized that Russia will act in accordance with its own interests and security needs if the US proceeds with nuclear testing. The Kremlin spokesperson also stressed that the US has the right to make sovereign decisions, but Russia will respond accordingly to protect its national security.

The development comes amid rising tensions between the US, Russia, and China, with all three countries engaged in a strategic competition that encompasses nuclear arms, defense systems, and geopolitical influence. The situation is being closely monitored by the international community, with concerns about the potential consequences of a renewed nuclear arms race.