The Preparatory Committee for the 2026 review conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons will open its first session in Austria on Monday. Participants may have heated debates as the world has been facing an increase of the nuclear threat due to the Russian invasion into Ukraine.

The two-week meeting in Vienna comes after the previous review conference last August failed to adopt a final document due to opposition by Russia. The primary point of contention was a passage referring to the Russia-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine.

Russia has also repeatedly threatened to use nuclear arms during its invasion of Ukraine. Moscow also revealed its plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in its neighboring ally, Belarus.

Poland responded to the move in June by announcing that it was seeking to join NATO's nuclear sharing program under the alliance's policy of nuclear deterrence.

Currently, five NATO members, including Germany, are purportedly hosting US nuclear arms, which will be jointly operated in case of an emergency.

The risk of nuclear weapons has been reportedly growing in East Asia. North Korea has been repeating ballistic missile launches as part of its nuclear and missile programs. China is also said to be expanding its nuclear force.

The United Nations and some countries without nuclear arms are hoping to use the preparatory session to highlight the inhumanity of nuclear weapons and boost momentum for nuclear disarmament.