Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the Foreign Ministry and other departments are already working on President Vladimir Putin's order to prepare proposals related to a possible nuclear test. This was reported by the state news agency TASS.
"As for President Putin's instructions from the Security Council meeting on November 5, they have been adopted for implementation and are already being worked on. The public will be informed about the results," Lavrov was quoted as saying by the agency.
According to TASS, Putin's order was a reaction to President Donald Trump's surprise statement last week that the United States intended to resume nuclear tests.
Lavrov added that Moscow had not received any official clarification from Washington about the American decision. Relations between the two countries have deteriorated sharply in recent weeks after Trump, frustrated by the lack of progress in ending the war in Ukraine, canceled a planned summit with Putin and imposed new sanctions against Russia - the first since his return to the White House in January.
Lavrov's announcement comes amid speculation in Western media that disagreements have arisen between him and Vladimir Putin, leading to his temporary removal or limitation of his role in foreign policy processes. Today's announcement is seen as an attempt to show that Lavrov retains his influence and position in the Russian president's inner circle.