Vladimir Putin has signed a law withdrawing Russia’s ratification of the global treaty banning nuclear weapons tests.

Moscow says its deratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) is merely designed to bring Russia into line with the United States, which signed but never ratified the treaty.

The CTBT, adopted in 1996, bans all nuclear explosions anywhere in the world, but the treaty was never fully implemented. In addition to the US it has yet to be ratified by China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, Iran and Egypt.

Both houses of the Russian parliament voted last month to revoke Moscow’s ratification of the bill.

There are widespread concerns that Russia may resume nuclear tests to try to discourage the West from continuing to offer military support to Ukraine.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said last month that Moscow would continue to respect the ban and will only resume nuclear tests if Washington does first.

Follow the latest updates below and join the conversation in the comments section