An in-person summit of the “nuclear five” of the UN Security Council (Russia, China, USA, France, Great Britain) can hardly be expected before the end of 2020. This was announced on Wednesday, September 9, by the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov.
“As for the initiative [президента России Владимира] Putin on the summit of the “five”, she is not dead, but while negotiations and discussions continue. The isolation regime (against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic) is not conducive to the conduct of the “five”; it is difficult now to gather all the leaders. The nature of the proposed meeting hardly makes it possible in the format of a videoconference, therefore, it is obvious that these agreements will continue and wait for the moment when the leaders can travel, “TASS quoted him as saying.
According to a Kremlin spokesman, “it will take more time for the agreement.” Peskov admitted that the summit of the leaders of the five countries is unlikely to take place before the end of 2020.
On June 18, Putin expressed confidence that the summit of the countries of the “nuclear five” will demonstrate a common commitment to the alliance of his participating countries to the ideals for which their ancestors fought.
On January 23, the Russian leader at the World Holocaust Forum in Israel called on the “nuclear five” to hold a meeting and find collective answers to current challenges and threats.
In early March, US President Donald Trump confirmed his agreement to a summit with the leaders of the “nuclear five” and announced his readiness to discuss arms control. The idea was approved by the UN as well.