Russia plans nuclear summit boycott

As reported in 'The Japan News' The Associated Press, VIENNA (AP) — Russia has informed the United States that it will boycott the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit, diplomats told The Associated Press on Tuesday, potentially stripping the meeting of one of its key participants and hurting efforts initiated by President Barack Obama to reduce the threat of nuclear terrorism. Officials already had told the AP on Monday that Moscow was absent from last week’s initial summit planning session in Washington but had left it unclear whether Russia planned to attend the summit itself. On Tuesday, two diplomats said the boycott applied to the 2016 meeting as well. They cited as their source a diplomatic note from Moscow to the United States and other nations planning to participate. The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not allowed to discuss confidential information. One of the diplomats said the note expressed opposition to the summit because of its alleged political nature. Speech