The NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, said that the alliance does not plan to resume nuclear weapons tests if Russia takes steps to withdraw its ratifiaction of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). The statement was made during a press conference after the first day of the meeting of the alliance's defense ministers.
Stoltenberg said that to date, the alliance has not seen any actions on the part of Russia that would be aimed at "changing the configuration of its nuclear forces" and would require actions from NATO. He also noted that the countries of the bloc have been implementing the provisions of the CTBT for 25 years and have no plans to resume nuclear tests. Stoltenberg added that the alliance continues to "closely monitor Russia's actions" and considers statements about the de-unification of the CTBT "a violation of its international obligations."
Earlier, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Ryabkov told reporters that the Russian Foreign Ministry is preparing a document to withdraw the ratification of the CTBT. Ryabkov said that at the moment there is a need to repeal the first article of the federal law on the ratification of the CTBT, while the remaining articles, according to the Deputy Minister, it is advisable to leave in force, since they deal with "measures necessary to maintain at the proper level and to the proper degree of combat readiness of Russia's nuclear arsenal." Ryabkov also said that such measures are being taken to "mirror what is now in the situation with the United States."
The Minister's statement was preceded by a speech by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the plenary session of the Valdai International discussion Club, where he stated that Russia admits the possibility of the CTBT ratification withdrawal and may return to conducting nuclear tests if the United States conducts them first.
To date, Russia and the United States do not conduct nuclear tests in accordance with the moratorium adopted in both countries. The moratorium implies compliance with the key provisions of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which was opened for signature in 1996. The agreement provides for a complete ban on nuclear weapons testing. Since its opening in 1996, the treaty has been signed by 186 States and ratified by 178, including Russia. However, the United States, China and six other countries have signed but not ratified the treaty, which prevents its entry into force. Nevertheless, China, Russia and the United States have committed themselves to refrain from conducting nuclear tests – the last nuclear tests in the USSR took place in 1990 (Russia did not conduct them), in the United States — in 1992, in China - in 1996.
Source - NATO
