S. Shoigu: Russia is preparing forces for a massive retaliatory nuclear strike

The upper house of the Russian parliament revoked the ratification of the ban on nuclear tests

Russia’s upper house of parliament on Wednesday withdrew its ratification of a global nuclear test ban, a move Moscow calls an effort to ensure parity with the United States.

The Federation Council voted in favor of a bill to withdraw ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, also known as the CTBT. The draft law will now be sent to President Vladimir Putin for final approval. The lower house of parliament approved the bill last week.

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The vote came after Putin said earlier this month that Moscow could reverse its 2000 decision to ratify the treaty to reflect the position of the United States, which has signed but not ratified it.

Adopted in 1996, the CTBT bans all nuclear tests anywhere in the world, but critics argue that without ratification, its potential remains unfulfilled. In addition to the United States, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, Iran and Egypt have not yet ratified the treaty.

There are concerns that Russia may resume nuclear tests to deter the West from further military aid to Ukraine.

V. Putin noted that although some experts claim that it is necessary to conduct nuclear tests, he has not yet formed an opinion on this issue.

Meanwhile, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Wednesday that he would consider proposals from the United States to resume dialogue on nuclear arms control, but would not accept them unless Washington abandons what Russians say is a hostile stance toward Moscow.