Putin signs law paving the way for nuclear renovation testing

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law Thursday that could lead to Russia's withdrawal from the Comprehensive Prevention Treaty of Nuclear Tests.

The Russian legislature's lower and upper chamber unanimously approved the move in October before reaching Putin's table.

The law text was published at Russia's official legal portal and established the legal framework to annul ratification of the 1996 treaty.

The United States signed but did not ratify the treaty, and Russian government officials say the revote of their ratification is to create equality in nuclear prevention.

T News Agency The state-backed AS reported that a Kremlin spokesman said the law does not mean Russia will resume nuclear tests.

Last month, the Russian government carried out exercises that simulated a nuclear attack to check the level of readiness of military command organs, as well as operational leadership and personnel”.

Tests included missile concessions from TTU-95 bombers MS, missile concessions from a nuclear submarine and launching cross-ccircular ballistic missiles from near Moscow against a target in Russia's far east.

Russian television featured a meeting between Putin and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, who told the Russian president that the exercises had simulated “the relationship of a massive nuclear attack by the strategic offensive forces in response to an enemy nuclear attack”.