Lawmakers in Russia’s parliament have announced their intention to hold a vote next week to withdraw Moscow’s ratification of the global treaty that prohibits nuclear tests. This move comes at a time of heightened tensions between Russia and the West due to the conflict in Ukraine, and it could potentially provide Moscow with legal grounds to conduct a nuclear explosion test for the first time since 1990, despite the Russian government’s claim that it has no such intention.
The State Duma, the lower house of the parliament, will initiate the process with the first reading of the bill scheduled for next Tuesday. Leonid Slutsky, the head of the Duma’s international affairs committee, anticipates that the bill will complete its passage just two days later. Notably, all 450 members of the Duma are sponsoring the motion, signaling unanimous approval. Following this, Russia will notify the United Nations Secretary-General of its decision.
Russia originally ratified the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 2000, while the United States signed the treaty but never ratified it. President Vladimir Putin’s recent remarks have influenced the Duma’s move, with Putin stating that Russia’s withdrawal would essentially “mirror” the U.S. position.
Russia has recently stressed the role of nuclear weapons in its military strategy, particularly as its conventional forces have faced challenges in Ukraine. This shift regarding the CTBT follows Russia’s suspension earlier this year of the New START treaty, which limits the number of Russian and U.S. nuclear warheads, marking another significant development in nuclear arms control in the 21st century.
While pushing for the Duma to act on the CTBT withdrawal, Putin refrained from confirming whether Russia would actually resume nuclear explosion tests. Such a test could significantly heighten tensions with the West, which are already at their highest point in six decades due to the Ukraine conflict. It might also prompt the United States, China, and other nations to consider resuming their own nuclear tests for the first time in this century, as suggested by security analysts.
On a separate note, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov accused the United States of making preparations at its nuclear test site in Nevada, although he stated that Russia would not resume testing unless the United States did so. The State Department rejected this allegation, characterizing it as a “disturbing effort by Moscow to heighten nuclear risks and raise tensions in the context of its illegal war in Ukraine.”
