Peskov: withdrawal of CTBT ratification de jure equalizes the rights of Russia and the United States

The withdrawal of ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) de jure equalizes the rights of Russia and the United States. This opinion was expressed by the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov.

“Our position is very clear, the situation has now stabilized de jure. Now Russia and America are signatories to the agreement. But now it has not been ratified in either country. We are watching very carefully,” Peskov emphasized.

Question about the need to revoke ratification raised Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club on October 5. At the same time, Putin clarified that he cannot say now whether Russia needs nuclear weapons tests. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov explainedthat the withdrawal of ratification does not mean that Russia intends to conduct nuclear tests.

A bill to revoke ratification of the CTBT was submitted to the State Duma on October 14. The document was adopted in the first reading on October 17, and in the second and third readings on October 18. The US National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) later reported to conduct an underground chemical explosion at a Nevada national security site “to improve the United States’ ability to detect low-yield nuclear explosions around the world.” The Federation Council will consider the cancellation of ratification of the CTBT on October 25.

Russia signed an agreement to accept the treaty on September 24, 1996. The document prohibits nuclear weapons tests and nuclear explosions for peaceful purposes. The moratorium applies in the atmosphere, in space, under water and underground. The CTBT has not entered into force because it has not been ratified by the United States, Egypt, Israel, Iran and China and has not been signed by India, North Korea and Pakistan.