Russia to skip Nuclear Security Summit in Washington

Russia has said that it will be skipping the Nuclear Security Summit to be hosted by United States President Barack Obama in Washington on March 31 to April 1.

According to reports, the Deputy National Security Adviser to the White House National Security Council, Ben Rhodes, called Moscow's move a missed opportunity.

"Russia's decision to certainly not participate at a high level we believe is a missed opportunity for Russia above all," media reports quoted him, as saying during a conference call.

Noting that the United States and Russia continue to cooperate and discuss issues related to nuclear security, Rhodes said,

"Frankly, all they're doing is isolating themselves in not participating, as they have in the past."

Leaders from across the world would gather here Thursday for a two-day summit that will focus on global nuclear concerns, particularly the potential for a terrorist organization to obtain nuclear materials.

The summit, which has been held every two years since 2010, will comes as world leaders are concerned about the increasing threats from terrorist, mainly Islamic State, seeking to obtain a nuclear weapon.