Putin signs bill revoking Russia’s ratification of nuclear test ban treaty

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday signed the bill that withdrew his country’s ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. He said the move would make Russia’s position on the treaty identical to the United States’ position. The United States signed the treaty in 1996 but never ratified it. Several other countries have also signed but not ratified the treaty, including Egypt, China, and Iran.

Will Russia now be testing nuclear weapons? Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said last month that Russia will continue to respect the ban if the United States also continues to respect it. Both houses of Russia’s parliament voted to withdraw the ratification last month.

Dig deeper: Read William Inboden’s column in WORLD Opinions on supporting military allies.