Russian top official underscores Nuclear Five's ongoing dialogue

Cooperation among Russia, China, the United Kingdom, the United States, and France within the framework of the Nuclear Five has remained uninterrupted, with working-level contacts expected to continue, according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.

“This is a closed working format, devoid of any element of emergency or sensationalism. The work of the Five has never ceased,” Ryabkov stated in an interview with Russian media, as per Caliber.Az.

He also announced that the next meeting of this group is scheduled to take place in New York in the coming two weeks, coinciding with the First Committee of the UN General Assembly.

“This will be at the working level,” Ryabkov clarified when asked about Russia's representation at the meeting. He emphasized that these discussions are “non-public events.”

As discussions progressed, Ryabkov expressed confidence that the Chinese representatives, designated with a coordinating role, would disclose information they deem necessary for the media and public. “The work is proceeding systematically,” he noted.

The backdrop of these discussions is the significant escalation of nuclear tensions between Russia and the West, which has reached unprecedented levels since the Cuban Missile Crisis, particularly following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.

Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed adjustments to Russia's nuclear doctrine, indicating that Moscow is broadening the scenarios under which it would consider using nuclear weapons. This shift aligns with anticipated changes from Western nations regarding the use of long-range weaponry by Ukraine to target deep into Russian territory.

In January 2022, just weeks prior to the invasion of Ukraine, the Nuclear Five issued a joint statement affirming that preventing conflict among nuclear powers and reducing strategic risks were their top priorities. “We reaffirm that nuclear war cannot be won and can never be fought,” they declared at that time.

It's important to note that the Nuclear Five, as the original nuclear powers recognized under the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, include the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, and Russia, as they were the only nations to have produced and detonated nuclear weapons before January 1, 1967.

However, they are not the only countries with nuclear capabilities; India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel are also believed to possess nuclear weapons. While Israel does not officially acknowledge its nuclear arsenal, most experts and various leaks suggest that the country has developed its own nuclear warheads since the late 1960s to early 1970s.

By Tamilla Hasanova