Russian parliament moves to rescind ratification of global nuclear test ban

The lower house of the Russian parliament on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to a bill revoking the ratification of a global nuclear test ban.

The lower house of the Russian parliament on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to a bill revoking the ratification of a global nuclear test ban.

The State Duma voted unanimously to rescind the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty known as the CTBT, in the first of three required readings. The final vote is scheduled for later this week.

The vote follows a statement from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who warned earlier this month that Moscow could revoke its 2000 decision to ratify the bill to "mirror" the stand taken by the United States, which has signed but not ratified the nuclear test ban.

Speaking during Tuesday's session, Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said the Russian move was a response to what he described as the U.S. "boorish attitude to performing its obligations to ensure global security."

"They thought about themselves as hegemons, proponents of a unilateral world," Volodin said. "Today's decision will ring the bell for them."

The CTBT, adopted in 1996, bans all nuclear explosions anywhere in the world, although it has never fully entered into force. In addition to the U.S., it is yet to be ratified by China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, Iran and Egypt.

There are widespread concerns that Russia could move to resume nuclear tests to try to discourage the West from continuing to offer military support to Ukraine. Many Russian hawks have spoken in favour of resumption.