Russia, China and U.S. in Talks to Curb AI Use in Nuclear Arsenals, Report Says

Nov. 11, 2026 A Russian RS-24 Yars nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile. Russian Defense Ministry Russia is in discussions with China and the United States about making a mutual committment to restrict the use of artificial intelligence in nuclear arsenals, the South China Morning Post reported Wednesday, ahead of a planned trilateral summit next week on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen. Working-level negotiators have narrowed the summit agenda down to areas of potential consensus after larger geopolitical flashpoints — including the war in Ukraine and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula — largely fell off the table, the newspaper reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. China reportedly prefers that talks about the Ukraine war take place directly between Russia and the U.S., while treating Korean Peninsula security as a bilateral issue between Pyongyang and Washington. Instead, negotiating teams have focused on establishing guardrails around artificial intelligence in nuclear command-and-control systems. Russia maintains a cautious stance regarding formal curbs on nuclear command systems, largely resisting agreements that could constrain its military flexibility. Russian, Chinese and American diplomats are also reportedly working toward a joint declaration reaffirming the principle that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this week that Moscow was exchanging agenda proposals with Washington and Beijing ahead of the summit. “There could be a wide variety of issues,” Peskov said, adding that the meeting “will draw the attention of everyone in the world.” Read more about: Nuclear Weapons , Artificial intelligence , China , United States , Diplomacy Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russian MFA Claims U.S. Canceled Next Round of Embassy Talks Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov had told reporters last week that a third round of discussions would take place “very soon.” 2 Min read Russia, U.S. Agree to Talk Security Demands Next Week Russia's foreign minister spoke with his U.S. counterpart as tensions flare over Ukraine. Russia Bans Top Biden Officials as Tensions Soar The wave of tit-for-tat sanctions and expulsions of diplomats follows Washington's toughest measures against Moscow in years. Mutually Assured Distraction Russia has proposed a “road map” amid growing tensions between the U.S. and North Korea. Spoiler: It’s not going to work.