The Global Nuclear Test Ban is not ratified by the Upper House of Russia

The Russian parliament’s upper chamber rescinded the worldwide nuclear test moratorium on Wednesday, citing a desire to achieve parity with the US, according to Moscow.

A bill to revoke the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, or CTBT, was approved by the Federation Council. President Vladimir Putin will now get the measure for final approval. Last week, the law was adopted by the lower house.

Putin’s warning earlier this month that Moscow may reverse its 2000 decision to ratify the law in order to “mirror” the US’s position—which has signed but not ratified the nuclear test ban—was followed by the vote.

Although all nuclear explosions are prohibited worldwide by the CTBT, which was ratified in 1996, the treaty was never completely put into effect. Apart from the United States, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, Iran, and Egypt have not yet ratified it.

Many people are worried that Russia may decide to start nuclear testing again in an effort to dissuade the West from supporting Ukraine militarily. Numerous Russian hawks have expressed support for the testing to be resumed.

Putin has said that he is still unsure about the need of conducting nuclear testing, despite the fact that several specialists have made this argument.

Sergei Ryabkov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister, said earlier this month that his country would stick to the embargo and won’t restart nuclear testing unless Washington takes the lead.