The results of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, showed that lawmakers unanimously approved the bill in the first reading.
In order for President Vladimir Putin to sign the law, the bill must pass three readings by the lower house and receive the approval of the upper house.
A final vote is scheduled for later this week.
At a meeting on Tuesday, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said Russia’s move was a response to what he called the US’s “clumsy approach to fulfilling its obligations to ensure global security”.
“They considered themselves hegemons, supporters of a one-sided world,” V. Volodinas said. “Today’s decision is a wake-up call for them, and then the bells will be rung for them, so they need to realize their responsibility as soon as possible.”
The withdrawal of ratification comes after President Putin warned this month that Moscow could reverse its 2000 decision to ratify the treaty. According to him, Russia could repeat the US position.
Adopted in 1996, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) bans all nuclear explosions anywhere in the world, although it has never fully entered into force. It was signed by both the presidents of Russia and the United States, but the United States never ratified it.
Putin’s announcement on the CTBT came amid fears among many that Moscow could resume nuclear tests to deter the West from further military support for Ukraine, which is fighting a Russian invasion. Many of the staunchest supporters of the Kremlin regime advocated resuming the tests.
Putin said that while some experts talk about the need to conduct nuclear tests, he has not yet formed an opinion on the matter.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov insisted last week that Moscow would resume nuclear tests only if Washington did so first.
Since the start of Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine, tensions have been rising over the possibility of nuclear weapons being used in the conflict.
Shortly after he attacked Ukraine, Putin mobilized Russia’s nuclear forces and repeatedly mentioned the country’s nuclear doctrine, which allows nuclear weapons to be used if the state’s existence is threatened.
In the summer, V. Putin confirmed that Russia had sent tactical nuclear weapons to its ally and Ukraine’s neighbor, Belarus.
Earlier this month, Moscow announced that it had successfully tested a nuclear-powered cruise missile.
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