Putin revokes ratification of global nuclear test ban

Putin chairs a meeting on economic issues via videoconference at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow. Pic/AP

President Vladimir Putin on Thursday signed a bill revoking Russia's ratification of a global nuclear test ban, a move that Moscow said was needed to establish parity with the United States.

Putin has said that rescinding the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, also known as the CTBT, would "mirror" the stand taken by the US, which has signed but not ratified the nuclear test ban. Both houses of the Russian parliament voted last month to revoke Moscow's ratification of the bill.

The CTBT, adopted in 1996, bans all nuclear explosions anywhere in the world, but the treaty was never fully implemented. The US, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, Iran and Egypt have not yet to ratified it. There are widespread concerns that Russia may resume nuclear tests.

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