According to a statement from the Kremlin Palace, Putin held a meeting with members of the Security Council.

The meeting was also attended by Russia Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, Chief of the General Staff Valeriy Gerasimov, Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Sergey Naryshkin, Secretary of the Security Council Sergey Shoygu and Director of the Federal Security Service (FSB) Aleksandr Bortnikov.

At the beginning of the meeting, the plans of the USA to start nuclear tests were discussed.

In his speech here, Putin stated that Russia remains committed to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and has no plans to withdraw from this treaty, saying:

"In my address to the Federal Assembly in 2023, I said that if the United States or other signatory countries conduct nuclear tests, Russia will be obliged to respond. In this regard, I instruct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, the intelligence services and the relevant civilian institutions to collect additional information on the issue, conduct analysis at the Security Council level and submit proposals to initiate preparations for nuclear weapons tests."

"I FIND IT APPROPRIATE TO START PREPARATIONS FOR NUCLEAR TESTS"

Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov stated that the United States is rapidly modernizing its strategic weapons and is working on the creation of new missile systems in this direction.

Belousov also stated that Washington has begun implementing the plan for the creation of the"Golden Dome" strategic missile defense system, and recalled that the US had previously withdrawn from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) and the Open Skies Treaty, adding:

Therefore, the US may abandon the nuclear test ban to undermine the global strategic stability system. US plans to conduct nuclear tests significantly increase the level of military danger for Russia. To ensure our country's security, we must maintain our nuclear potential, which can harm the enemy under all circumstances. Therefore, I believe it is appropriate to immediately begin preparations for full-scale nuclear tests.

Minister Belousov said that forces at the range in Russia's Novaya Zemlya (New Land) archipelago are prepared for nuclear tests.

Chief of the Russian General Staff Gerasimov also stated that the US had not clarified the issue of nuclear tests for Russia, and therefore necessary measures should be taken against it.