Russia demands that Trump act first to mend ties

In recent months, tensions between Russia and the United States have been escalating, particularly regarding nuclear capabilities. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov indicated that the country is reconsidering its stance on nuclear testing in light of the changing dynamics under Donald Trump’s administration. During Trump's first term from 2017 to 2021, there was discussion in the US about resuming nuclear tests for the first time since 1992. In contrast, Russia has not conducted any nuclear tests since the Soviet era, with the last test occurring in 1990. This ongoing debate has raised concerns as both countries, along with China, are modernizing their nuclear arsenals. Additionally, Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed that the country would contemplate resuming tests if the US were to proceed with its own tests, putting further pressure on international arms control agreements such as the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). In 2023, Putin formally revoked Russia's ratification of this treaty, aligning Russia's position with that of the US, which has signed but not ratified the document since 1996. Recently, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized that while Russia is open to improving relations with the US, Washington needs to initiate any dialogue, given that it had previously halted conversations after the conflict escalated in Ukraine in 2022. Lavrov insists that meaningful negotiations require a legally binding agreement that will ensure security for both Russia and its neighbors, rejecting weak ceasefires as insufficient. This stance highlights the complexities and dangers in global nuclear politics, with the potential for catastrophic consequences if diplomatic resolutions are not pursued.