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Russian lawmakers have voted to revoke earlier ratification of a global nuclear treaty.
The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty prevents all nuclear explosions anywhere in the world. Russia originally signed onto it back in 2000, but the lower house of Russia’s parliament unanimously voted today to rescind that earlier vote in order to “mirror” the U.S.
The U.S. is one of several major world powers that signed the agreement but never properly ratified it.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov says Moscow will continue to respect the ban and will only resume nuclear tests if Washington does so first.
However, war hawks in Russia are calling for the resumption of nuclear tests and President Vladimir Putin has not given his opinion on whether or not Moscow should begin testing again.