According to Russia’s TASS news agency, Ryabkov made the comments during an interview with the state-backed RT television network, though there are no indications the U.S. is planning new nuclear weapons tests.The remarks came against the backdrop of renewed nuclear threats from senior Russian officials as the Kremlin seeks to discourage Western military support for Ukraine. Speaking at Russia’s Security Council on September 25, President Vladimir Putin hinted Moscow could respond with nuclear weapons to what it described as a “joint attack” from a non-nuclear-armed country backed by an ally with nuclear capability.Speaking to RT, Ryabkov said that if Washington conducts new nuclear weapons tests “we will not hesitate” to respond in kind. Ryabkov was repeating a warning he made to Russian news agencies in September when he said Moscow would not initiate fresh nuclear tests unless the U.S. made the first move.
