INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russia intends to stick to a nuclear test ban moratorium despite withdrawing its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty,
the Foreign Ministry said Friday."We intend to keep the moratorium that was introduced more than 30 years ago in place," said a ministry
statement.But any nuclear tests by the United States would "force us to do the same," it added.Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday
signed off on a law revoking Russia's ratification of the treaty.The 1996 treaty outlaws all nuclear explosions, including live tests of
West has accused Russia of using reckless nuclear rhetoric since it launched its offensive on Ukraine last February.U.S
testing."Unfortunately, it represents a significant step in the wrong direction, taking us further from, not closer to, entry into force" of
the treaty, Blinken said in a statement."This continues Moscow's disturbing and misguided effort to heighten nuclear risks and raise
tensions as it pursues its illegal war against Ukraine," he said.Putin last week oversaw ballistic missile drills in what Defense Minister
Sergei Shoigu said was practice for a "massive" retaliatory nuclear strike against an unnamed enemy.Putin also said last month he was "not
ready to say" whether Russia would carry out live nuclear tests.The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) has urged
Russia to continue its commitment to the treaty, including the use of monitoring stations capable of detecting the slightest explosion in
