Russian lawmakers approved a bill to revoke ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. The move heightened tensions between Russia and the West during the Russo-Ukrainian war.
Russia’s Federation Council unanimously approved a bill to withdraw ratification of the landmark Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. Russia’s State Duma accelerated a vote last week to pass the bill. Now, the bill only needs Russian President Vladimir Putin’s signature to take effect.
Moscow announced its intention to withdraw from the treaty on October 6 to “mirror” the position of the United States, which itself signed the treaty but never ratified it.
However, it is unclear whether the rescinded decision will lead Russia to resume its nuclear weapons testing.
Putin said on October 5, “I hear calls for launching nuclear weapons tests. But I am not ready to say whether we really need to conduct these tests.”
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said earlier this month that Russia would continue to comply with the ban and would resume nuclear weapons testing only if the United States did so.
However, he pointed out on the 25th that a chemical explosion occurred at the U.S. test site in Nevada.
Although the United States said the test would help it “detect” low-yield nuclear explosions, Ryabkov told the Russian Federation Council that the explosion was “undoubtedly a political signal.”
The official also said, “As our president has said, we must remain vigilant and if the United States is prepared to initiate nuclear testing, then we must respond in the same way.”
‘deeply disturbing’
The United States said earlier this month that it was “deeply troubled” by Russia’s move to withdraw its ratification of the treaty.
“Such actions by any state party would unnecessarily jeopardize the global norm against nuclear explosive testing,” the State Department said.
The State Department added that Russia should not “use arms control and irresponsible nuclear rhetoric to coerce other countries,” seemingly suggesting the move was aimed at putting pressure on the United States and other countries supporting Ukraine in the Russo-Ukrainian war.
Since the beginning of the Russo-Ukrainian war, Putin has repeatedly cited Russia’s nuclear doctrine.
Russia’s Nuclear Threat in Ukraine War (Al Jazeera)
With Russia withdrawing its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, the last remaining bilateral nuclear weapons treaty between the United States and Russia will be the New START Treaty – under which the two countries need Regularly inspect each other’s nuclear facilities and limit the number of warheads on its own.
Russia suspended its participation in the treaty in February. This treaty will expire in early 2026.
Ryabkov told reporters in Moscow on the 25th that the Kremlin had received an informal proposal from the United States to “resume negotiations on strategic stability and arms control issues without taking into account the current situation.”
However, Ryabkov said that Russia believes that if the United States does not change “its deep-rooted hostility toward Russia,” then it is “simply impossible” for the two countries to return to such dialogue.
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2023-10-25 15:49:45
