By  Smartencyclopedia with agencies

MOSCOW – Russian lawmakers made a significant decision on Wednesday by passing a law aimed at revoking the ratification of the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.

The Russian State Duma, the lower chamber of the parliament, voted in favor of withdrawing the agreement’s ratification during a plenary session held in Moscow.

The bill, which was submitted to the State Duma on October 13, entails the cancellation of the ratification by repealing Article 1 of the law titled “On Ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.”

For this legislative change to be enacted, it must receive approval in three readings from the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, and the Federation Council, and subsequently be signed by President Vladimir Putin.

This modification, initiated under Putin’s direction, is believed to place Russia on an equal footing with the United States. While the United States signed the 1996 treaty, it never ratified it. Russia, on the other hand, ratified the treaty in the year 2000.

This decision comes against the backdrop of increased tensions between Russia and the United States, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which is on the cusp of entering its 20th month of turmoil.