ALBAWABA - Russian President Vladimir Putin signs off on Russia withdrawing from the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
The 1996 treaty outlaws all nuclear explosions, including live tests of nuclear weapons, though it never came into force because some key countries, including the United States and China, never ratified it, AFP reported.
The bill to terminate the treaty was expedited through Russia's parliament last month, followed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday signing a law revoking Russia's ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
Putin oversaw ballistic missile drills last week, which Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu described as preparation for a "massive" retaliatory nuclear strike on an unnamed enemy. Last month, Putin claimed he was "not ready to say" if Russia will conduct live nuclear testing.
During legislative hearings, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin stated that the decision to withdraw the treaty was in response to the US' "cynicism" and "boorish attitudes" toward nuclear weapons.
Despite the fact that it was never implemented, the agreement was accepted by 178 countries, including nuclear powers France and Britain, and has symbolic value.
