The 🇺🇸 United States issued a stark warning to Vladimir Putin by conducting a highly-explosive nuclear experiment at a test site in Nevada. 

It came within hours of Russian lawmakers announcing they will be pulling out of a treaty banning the test of atomic weapons claiming the move would put 🇷🇺 Russia on par with the US.

The Department of Energy said the test used chemicals and radioisotopes to "validate new predictive explosive models" that will help experts detect atomic explosions in other countries.

In a statement after the test, National Nuclear Security Administration's Corey Hinderstein said: "These experiments advance our efforts to develop new technology in support of US nuclear nonproliferation goals.

"They will help reduce global nuclear threats by improving the detection of underground nuclear explosive tests."

The timing of the test coincided with Russian members of parliament confirming they will revoke the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.

The 1996 treaty bans nuclear explosions across the world however it never entered into force fully.

The US never ratified it nor did China, Pakistan, India, North Korea, Iran, Israel or Egypt.

Vladimir Putin has been fuelling fears of a nuclear conflict since he put his nuclear arsenal on high alert within days of invading Ukraine in 2022.

Geopolitical analysts are concerned Moscow might seek to resume testing nuclear warheads in a bid to dissuade the US from continuing to support Kyiv's government against Russian troops.