Russia says it will not take part in the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on January 13 that the Nuclear Security Summits, which are aimed at preventing nuclear terrorism around the globe, "have played their role" and that their political agenda has been exhausted.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) must be a central force "to coordinate the world's efforts in global nuclear security," Zakharova added.
She also said that the nuclear summits try to interfere in the activities of international organizations, including the IAEA, and impose the "opinions of a limited group of states" on international structures, which is "unacceptable."
The next Nuclear Security Summit is scheduled for March 31-April 1 in the U.S. capital.
Top Russian officials took part in previous summits -- in Washington (2010), Seoul (2012) and The Hague (2014).