High-Level Talks In New York Amid Rising Nuclear Tensions Between Russia And The West

A meeting involving the five nuclear-armed states is set to take place in New York within the next two weeks, Russian state media reported, citing Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on Thursday. The group includes Russia, the United States, China, France, and Britain—all permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Ryabkov did not disclose the specific date or the level of officials attending the meeting. The discussions come amid heightened nuclear tensions between Russia and the West, largely fueled by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin made changes to the country’s nuclear doctrine, expanding the list of situations that could lead Moscow to consider using nuclear weapons.

In a January 2022 joint statement, just weeks before the Ukraine war began, the “nuclear five” emphasized the importance of avoiding conflict between nuclear powers and reducing strategic risks. At the time, they collectively affirmed: “We affirm that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.”