Pakistan, Nov. 6 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday instructed top officials to draft proposals for a possible nuclear weapons test, marking a move Russia has not undertaken since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Putin's directive, announced during a televised Security Council meeting, comes in response to US President Donald Trump's recent announcement that the United States would resume nuclear testing, raising concerns of escalating tensions between the world's two largest nuclear powers.

"I am instructing the Foreign Ministry, Defence Ministry, special services and relevant civilian agencies to collect additional information and make agreed proposals on the possible start of work on the preparation of nuclear ...