Diplomat: Russia to propose schedule of meetings of Nuclear Five

Russia, as the coordinator of the informal association of nuclear countries, will propose to hold consultations within the framework of the Nuclear Five format,

The nearest meeting of experts will be held on the margins of the meeting of the First Committee of the UN General Assembly in New York., Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said, according to Gazeta.ru.

The diplomat called the Nuclear Five format a separate subject, not directly related to the issue of the dialogue between the US and Russia on strategic stability, as the Five has its own agenda.

Ryabkov said the Russian side wants to tweak the agenda and not reduce everything only to nuclear risks, proposing to expand it, including by working on the new cycle of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and subjects related to the interaction of the group of five states, permanent members of the UN Security Council on issues on the prohibition of nuclear weapons.

"This does not apply to our bilateral plots with the United States," the Russian deputy foreign minister emphasized.

"The Nuclear Five is an informal association of states that possess nuclear weapons. This association includes Russia, China, the United Kingdom, the United States and France.