United States: The United States has stated it is “disturbed” by Russia’s move to reverse its ratification of a 1996 treaty banning the testing of nuclear weapons. Recently, Russia’s envoy to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) Mr. Mikhail Ulyanov said that Moscow will revoke its ratification of the pact.
The announcement by Mr. Ulyanov added new fuel to tensions between the world’s largest nuclear weapons powers amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and US military support for Kyiv.
Mr. Ulyanov posted on social media that “Russia plans to revoke ratification [which took place in the year 2000] of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty [CTBT]. The aim is to be on equal footing with the US, which signed the treaty but didn’t ratify it. Revocation doesn’t mean the intention to resume nuclear tests.”
Responding to Russia’s announcement, the US State Department said it was “disturbed” by the move.
“We are disturbed by the comments of Ambassador Ulyanov in Vienna today. A move like this by any state party needlessly endangers the global norm against nuclear explosive testing,” a spokesperson for the Department said in a statement.
“Russia should not be wielding arms control and irresponsible nuclear rhetoric in a failing attempt to coerce other states”, the State Department added.
#Russia plans to revoke ratification (which took place in the year 2000) of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (#CTBT). The aim is to be on equal footing with the #US who signed the Treaty, but didn’t ratify it. Revocation doesn’t mean the intention to resume nuclear tests
— Mikhail Ulyanov (@Amb_Ulyanov) October 6, 2023
Mr. Ulyanov’s statement came after Russian President Mr. Vladimir Putin said that Moscow could reassess its ratification of the treaty.
During a forum with foreign affairs experts, Mr. Putin noted that the US had signed but not ratified the 1996 nuclear test ban treaty, while Russia had signed and also ratified.
“Theoretically, we may revoke the ratification. It’s up to the state duma members,” the Russian President added.
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