1. Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked senior officials to investigate if Russia should begin preparing for potential nuclear weapons tests, in response to a recent directive by US President Donald Trump to conduct nuclear tests.
2. According to Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, preparations for full-scale nuclear tests could take from several months to years, depending on the nature of the test.
3. Despite this potential action, Putin emphasized that Russia will maintain its commitment to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, but may need to take countermeasures if the US or other countries conduct nuclear tests.