Russia Withdraws from Nuclear Test Ban Treaty: Putin's Decision
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law revoking Russia's ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, which outlaws all nuclear explosions, including live tests of nuclear weapons. The treaty never came into force due to the non-ratification by key countries such as the United States and China. The move comes amid accusations of reckless nuclear rhetoric by Russia and Putin's recent statement that he was unsure if Russia would carry out live nuclear tests. The decision has been criticized by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) and its head, Robert Floyd, who called it disappointing and regrettable. The treaty, although symbolic, established an international norm against live tests of nuclear weapons.