The Russian State Duma has unanimously resolved to rescind Russia’s ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). The bill will now be sent to the upper chamber and then to President Vladimir Putin, who is expected to sign it into law. Russian lawmakers and media figures have called for the country to carry out nuclear tests, and even launch strikes against European cities, since the start of the war in Ukraine.
Russia says it will not resume nuclear testing unless Washington does, but arms control experts are concerned it may be inching towards a test that the West would perceive as a threat.
Russia's parliament moved swiftly to fulfil the wish of President Vladimir Putin by completing the passage of a bill that shifts Moscow's legal stance on nuclear testing at a time of acute tension with the West. The lower house, the State Duma, on Wednesday (Oct 18) passed the second and third readings of
Russia says it will not resume nuclear testing unless Washington does, but arms control experts are concerned it may be inching towards a test that the West would perceive as a threat.
Russia s parliament has passed a bill that revokes Russia s ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, in line with President Vladimir Putin s wishes. This move comes at a time of heightened tension with the West. Russia says it will not resume testing unless the United States does, but experts are concerned that it may be inching towards a test that could escalate the situation further. Russia s shift on the treaty follows its earlier suspension of the New START treaty with the US, which limited the number of strategic warheads each side could deploy.