Russian State Duma to discuss withdrawing ratification of Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

The Russian State Duma will discuss the issue of withdrawing Russia’s ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin wrote on his Telegram channel.

“This is in line with the national interests of our state. And will be a mirror answer to the U.S., which has yet to ratify the treaty,” Volodin wrote.

He also referenced Putin’s recent speech at Valdai, in which the Russian president said that Russia had conducted the “last successful test” of the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile.

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was adopted in 1996 by the U.N. General Assembly. Russia ratified the document, but the United States and China did not. The last time Russia and the United States conducted nuclear tests was in 1990 and 1992, respectively.