Russia says it will withdraw its ratification of a key international nuclear test ban treaty, in a move that risks exacerbating global instability stemming from the war in Ukraine.
There are currently no arms talks between the United States and Russia, Moscow has suspended implementation of the New START Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, and relations between Washington and Moscow are at their lowest point since the Cold War.
Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's ambassador to the International Organization in Vienna, said on Friday that Russia planned to withdraw its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, But he said Russia's decision should not be interpreted as a signal that the country plans to resume nuclear testing.
A U.S. State Department spokesman said Russia's move "unnecessarily jeopardizes the global norm against nuclear explosive tests" and that the United States remains committed to complying with the moratorium.