Putin orders nuclear testing preparations after Trump's surprise shift

"The White House and State Department did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment on Putin's directive. Driving the news: Putin reaffirmed that if the U.S. conducted such tests, Russia would respond, multiple outlets reported Wednesday. He instructed the foreign and defense ministries to collect additional information and make proposals over the possible start of nuclear weapons tests. Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, according to NBC's translation, urged his government to begin preparing for "full-scale nuclear testing immediately" in response to Washington."

"Yes, but: Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized in a statement to CNN that Russia is "just investigating whether it is necessary to start preparations" and is still bound by "our obligations on the overall ban of nuclear tests." The big picture: Trump perplexed national security experts with his vague order to the Department of Defense to start "testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis" with other countries - "immediately.""

"Wright said on "The Sunday Briefing" on Fox News that the tests wouldn't include explosions. "I think the tests we're talking about right now are system tests," he said. State of play: Trump has claimed that U.S. adversaries are already conducting such testing. But as Axios' Dave Lawler reports, there have been no reports made public of Russia or China doing so. Russia did recently test a new nuclear-powered long-ranged missile."

Putin instructed foreign and defense ministries to gather information and propose steps regarding a possible resumption of nuclear weapons tests, and Russia warned it would respond if the United States conducted such tests. Defense Minister Andrei Belousov urged immediate preparation for full-scale nuclear testing, while Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia is only investigating necessity and remains bound by obligations on the overall ban of nuclear tests. The U.S. has not conducted nuclear detonations in decades. U.S. officials offered mixed messages about what testing would entail, with claims that planned tests could be system rather than explosive.

Read at Axios