Russia passes law pulling ratification of nuclear test ban treaty

Russia's parliament has passed a law to withdraw ratification of the global treaty banning nuclear weapons tests, reflecting the strained relations with the United States amid the conflict in Ukraine. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated that Russia would not discuss nuclear issues with the U.S. unless Washington changed its "hostile" policy. Russia's move to deratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) comes after the U.S., which signed the treaty in 1996 but never ratified it.