US condemns Russia’s decision to allow nuclear tests

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed concern over Russia’s decision to withdraw its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), potentially allowing Russia to conduct them.

Source: Blinken’s statement on the website of the State Department, quoted by European Pravda

Details: As the head of the US foreign policy department said, Russia’s decision is “a significant step in the wrong direction, taking us further from, not closer to, entry into force.”

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Quote: “Russia’s action will only serve to set back confidence in the international arms control regime. We appreciate the similar statements of concern expressed by many other States in recent weeks about this action,” he added. 

At the same time, as Blinken said, the United States took into account Russia’s assurances not to conduct nuclear tests despite the withdrawal of ratification and confirmed the need to maintain the global ban on nuclear weapons tests.

The State Secretary also recalled that Russia has been increasing nuclear risks and tensions for a long time against the background of its illegal war against Ukraine.

Background:

• On 2 November, after the decision of the Russian parliament, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law revoking the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.
• Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs Ministry called Russia’s decision another step in nuclear blackmail.
• Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has resorted to nuclear threats from time to time. Intelligence and the leaders of Western states generally consider such a scenario unlikely.

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