MOSCOW: Russian International Minister Sergei Lavrov mentioned on Tuesday (Nov 11) that Moscow was “prepared” to debate with Washington accusations by President Donald Trump that it had carried out secret underground nuclear tests.
Tensions have risen between the world’s two largest nuclear nations after the newest try to resolve the Ukraine battle failed, with Russia carrying out tests of its nuclear-powered, nuclear-capable weapons programs and Trump saying he was ordering the check of atomic weapons.
He accused Moscow of getting secretly carried out nuclear detonations – not simply the testing of supply programs, which all nuclear-armed states do repeatedly.
“We’re prepared to debate the suspicions raised by our American colleagues relating to the likelihood that we is perhaps secretly doing one thing deep underground,” Lavrov advised state media in a televised interview.
He denied Trump’s claims and mentioned the USA may examine whether or not Russia examined a nuclear warhead by way of the worldwide seismic monitoring system.
“Different exams, each subcritical, or these and not using a chain nuclear response, and provider exams, have by no means been prohibited,” Lavrov added.
Trump accused each Russia and China of testing nuclear weapons in an interview with US broadcaster CBS Information earlier this month, after abruptly shelving a proposed summit with Putin on Ukraine.
However Lavrov mentioned the 2 points weren’t linked.
“I’d not combine the subject of nuclear exams with the subject of the Budapest summit,” he mentioned.
He additionally mentioned Moscow was nonetheless open to a potential assembly between Putin and Trump.
“We’re prepared to debate with our American colleagues the resumption of preparatory work for the proposed summit of the leaders of Russia and the USA.”
Trump has grown more and more annoyed with Putin in latest months over the Kremlin chief’s refusal to halt his nearly four-year offensive in opposition to Ukraine.
