Russia’s Permanent Representative announced the withdrawal of ratification of the nuclear test ban

Russia plans to revoke ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), Mikhail Ulyanov, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s permanent representative of the Russian Federation to international organizations in Vienna and former director of the department for non-proliferation and arms control, said on social media.

“Russia plans to annul the ratification (which took place in 2000) of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). The goal is to be on equal footing with the United States, which signed the Treaty but did not ratify it. The recall does not indicate an intention to resume nuclear testing,” he wrote on October 6.

Ulyanov’s statement, how writes Reuters, heightened tensions between Russia and the United States. The State Department said that Washington was concerned about the comments of the Russian permanent representative.

“Such a move by any participating state would unnecessarily jeopardize global norms prohibiting nuclear explosion testing,” the agency quoted a State Department spokesman as saying.

It said Russia must achieve “equal standing” with the United States “without resorting to arms control and irresponsible nuclear rhetoric in unsuccessful attempts to coerce other states.” The statement also said Washington views Moscow’s plan to revoke ratification of the CTBT as a way to increase pressure on the United States and other countries to cut off arms supplies and other aid to Ukraine.

Ulyanov made his statement a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that Moscow might consider withdrawing ratification of the CTBT. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov later clarified that the withdrawal of ratification does not mean Moscow will necessarily resume nuclear tests. According to him, the problem with the CTBT is that Russia signed and ratified “a long time ago,” but “the Americans did not ratify.”

In September 2023, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin said that Moscow calls on the United States to immediately ratify the CTBT. According to him, Washington could become a driving force in this matter and set an example for other states.

The UN General Assembly approved the CTBT on September 24, 1996. The document prohibits testing nuclear weapons and carrying out nuclear explosions even for peaceful purposes. The moratorium applies in the atmosphere, in space, under water and underground on the territory of all states. The CTBT has been signed and ratified by Russia, most EU countries, Canada, and most of the countries of South America, Africa, and Central Asia. Signed but not ratified by the United States, Egypt, Israel, Iran, China and a number of other countries. India, North Korea and Pakistan did not sign the agreement.