Putin says Russia may consider withdrawing ratification of Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia may consider withdrawing its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
Elena Chernenko, special correspondent for Kommersant, wrote that Putin said the following:
Experts say that with new weapons it’s necessary to make sure the warhead will work without failures, and that [nuclear] tests should be carried out. I’m not ready to say now whether we need to conduct [nuclear] tests or not, but it’s possible to mirror the actions of the United States when they signed, but didn’t ratify [the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty] — while we signed and ratified it, is possible in principle. But this is a question for the deputies of the State Duma. Theoretically, it’s possible to withdraw the ratification [of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treat], if we do this, it will be quite enough.