Russia-Ukraine war at a glance: what we know on day 609
GuardianJUL 2023
Russian Parliament Revokes Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
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The Spin
Pro-Russia narrative
Although Russia has withdrawn from the CTBT, it has made a decades-long promise not to test nuclear missiles. The irony of Washington scolding Moscow for its revocation could not be more rich given that Russia is the only one of the two that ratified the treaty, while Western countries have failed to ratify it themselves over 23 years.
Anti-Russia narrative
While Russia says it will continue to abide by the treaty, Putin's series of alarming decisions surrounding nuclear arms should raise some eyebrows. Following his suspension of the New START treaty, the Russian leader has purposely stripped his government of more international safeguards — likely an attempt to deter European nations from supporting Ukraine. Either way, Russia has singlehandedly inched the world closer to another nuclear arms race, and the world should be very cautious.