In Moscow, on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law thatannuls Russia’s ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
This treaty, established in 1996, prohibited all nuclear explosions,including live tests of nuclear weapons. However, it never came into effectbecause several key countries, including the United States and China, didnot ratify it.
The Western nations have accused Russia of using provocative nuclearrhetoric since its offensive in Ukraine that began in February. Just lastweek, Putin oversaw ballistic missile exercises, which Defense MinisterSergei Shoigu described as practice for a “massive” retaliatory nuclearstrike against an undisclosed adversary.
Additionally, Putin mentioned last month that he was uncertain whetherRussia would conduct live nuclear tests. The bill to withdraw from thetreaty swiftly passed through Russia’s parliament last month.
During parliamentary discussions, State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodinexplained that this move was a response to the United States’ “cynicism”and “rudeness” regarding nuclear weapons.
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Even though the treaty never became effective, it was ratified by 178countries, including nuclear powers like France and Britain, and carriedsymbolic importance.
Supporters argue that it established an international standard against livenuclear weapon tests, while critics contend that the treaty’s potentialremains unfulfilled without the ratification of major nuclear powers.
Russia’s parliament had ratified the agreement in June 2000, just sixmonths after Putin assumed the presidency.