MOSCOW, March 2. /TASS/. The situation involving the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which never entered into force through the United States’ fault, is causing ever more concern, as Washington is clearly determined to resume nuclear testing, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on Thursday.

"The situation involving the CTBT is causing increasing concern. The responsibility for the situation in which the treaty has not entered into force over the more than a quarter of a century of its existence lies squarely with the United States, which defiantly refused to ratify it and is now demonstrating its clear intention to resume testing," Ryabkov stated.

"We cannot afford to remain idle spectators to what is happening. If the United States nevertheless decides to take such a step and be the first to conduct nuclear tests, we will be forced to respond proportionately. No one should have dangerous illusions that global strategic parity can be upset," he said.

Earlier, in his message to the Federal Assembly, Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed the Defense Ministry to get ready for staging nuclear tests, if necessary. Russia will not be the first to conduct them, though.