According to Russia state-owned media, the Russian Federation has terminated bilateral agreements with Japan over the reduction of nuclear weapons, this follows last week in which President Putin withdrew from the CTBT which bans nuclear weapons tests. The announcement reads below:

“Mishustin ordered the termination of the agreement with Japan on cooperation in the field of eliminating nuclear weapons subject to reduction in the Russian Federation.”

The two nations formed a cooperation committee for reducing nuclear weapons in 1993, and it was then that the agreement was signed. The Japanese government has not responded to this announcement.

However, with regard to the withdrawal from the CTBT, the Japanese Foreign Ministry responded with the below statement:

”On November 2nd, Russia promulgated and put into force the law to revoke its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).

1. With regard to the CTBT adopted in 1996, Russia ratified it in 2000 and since then has continued to demonstrate its commitment to the norm banning nuclear testing. Throughout the period, the international community has witnessed a steady increase in the number of countries that have signed and ratified the CTBT. Such history has great significance for the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. In the current severe international situation, it is becoming increasingly important to promote the entry into force and to universalize the CTBT.
2. Against this backdrop, taking into consideration that Russia is one of the Annex 2 States and the largest nuclear-weapon State among the States Signatories and States Parties of the CTBT, Russia’s decision to revoke its ratification of the CTBT goes against the international community’s longstanding efforts. Japan condemns Russia’s decision and urges Russia to continue to respect the international norm banning nuclear testing stipulated in the CTBT and to show its commitment to maintaining and strengthening the international monitoring system and to the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime.
3. As the only country to have ever suffered atomic bombings during war, Japan will continue to work tenaciously with the international community toward the achievement of a world without nuclear weapons through realistic and practical efforts, including the early entry into force and universalization of the CTBT.”

The CTBT bans nuclear weapons explosions. It was adopted by the United Nations on 10 September 1996, but has not entered into force due to China, Egypt, Iran, Israel and the United States signing but not ratifying the Treaty; while India, North Korea and Pakistan have not signed it.