Outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken claims that China may have persuaded Russian President Vladimir Putin against deploying nuclear weapons during the ongoing war in Ukraine.
According to Blinken, China used its influence to dissuade Putin from escalating tensions with a potential nuclear strike. “We have reason to believe that China engaged Russia and said: ‘Don’t go there,'” he stated.
This revelation comes as China has been providing significant financial support to Russia since the invasion in February 2022. Beijing has denied supporting Russia’s military efforts, but Blinken’s comments suggest otherwise.
The US has long been concerned about Putin’s plans for nuclear escalation, with Blinken stating that even a small chance of such an event is “nothing more serious.” However, intelligence sources have downplayed the risk of a Russian nuclear strike, citing unlikely circumstances.
Blinken defended President Joe Biden’s record on Russia and Ukraine, arguing that Putin suffered a “strategic defeat” and NATO has grown stronger. As Biden’s term comes to an end, Blinken is set to be replaced by Republican Senator Marco Rubio.
Source: https://kyivindependent.com/china-may-have-stopped-putin-from-using-nuclear-weapons-blinken-says