Putin signs bill revoking Russia's ratification of global nuke test ban treaty

President Vladimir Putin has signed a bill to revoke Russia's ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), citing the need to establish parity with the United States. The CTBT, adopted in 1996, bans nuclear explosions globally but has not been fully implemented. Russia's move has raised concerns that it may resume nuclear tests to deter Western military support for Ukraine. However, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated that Moscow will only resume tests if the US does so first.