The Kremlin commented on the possible withdrawal of ratification of the CTBT
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A possible withdrawal of ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) does not yet mean Russia’s intention to conduct nuclear tests, said Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov.
“The President primarily meant the need to bring the de facto situation to a common denominator. Because we signed and ratified a long time ago. The Americans did not ratify. And in order to bring it to a common denominator, the president allowed the possibility of revoking this ratification,” he said.
State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, in turn, announced his readiness to do this, Peskov noted.
“This does not mean a statement of intention to conduct nuclear tests,” he concluded.
On October 5, speaking at the plenary session of the 20th annual meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club, Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted that Russia could theoretically withdraw ratification of the CTBT. He clarified that he cannot say now whether Russia needs nuclear weapons tests.
“But behave in a mirror manner in relations with the United States, I repeat once again, when they signed but did not ratify [договор о запрещении ядерных испытаний], and we signed and ratified it, in principle, it is possible. But this is a question for the State Duma deputies. Theoretically, it is possible to revoke ratification, if we do this, that will be quite enough,” he clarified.
The UN General Assembly approved the CTBT on September 24, 1996. The document prohibits testing nuclear weapons and carrying out nuclear explosions for peaceful purposes. The moratorium applies in the atmosphere, in space, under water and underground on the territory of all states. The CTBT has not yet entered into force, as 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.
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