Polyansky called possible nuclear tests in the United States a step towards escalation

If the United States actually conducted nuclear tests at the Nevada test site, then this is a step towards escalation. This statement was made by the First Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN, Dmitry Polyansky, on the Rossiya-24 TV channel.

“If they [США] really conducted nuclear tests, then this is a step towards escalation on their part,” said Polyansky (quote according to TASS). He clarified that the UN Security Council does not yet intend to raise this issue.

Earlier today at the Russian Foreign Ministry reportedthat Moscow is checking information about an underground explosion in Nevada. Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei Ryabkov clarified that if the data is confirmed, then “we are not talking about testing nuclear weapons, and this explosion does not contradict either the US moratorium on nuclear tests or the provisions of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, which has not entered into force.”

October 18 US National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) reported about testing a bomb with an underground chemical explosion at a nuclear test site “to improve the US ability to detect low-yield nuclear explosions around the world.” On the same day the State Duma approved law to revoke ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

Question about the need to revoke ratification raised Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club on October 5. At the same time, Putin clarified that he cannot say now whether Russia needs nuclear weapons tests. Earlier today, Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov explainedthat the revocation of ratification de jure equalizes the rights of Russia and the United States. The Federation Council will consider this decision on October 25.

Russia signed an agreement to accept the CTBT on September 24, 1996. The document prohibits nuclear weapons tests and nuclear explosions for peaceful purposes. The moratorium applies in the atmosphere, in space, under water and underground. The treaty did not come into force because it was not ratified by the United States, Egypt, Israel, Iran and China and was not signed by India, North Korea and Pakistan.