““We have reason to believe that China contacted Russia and said, ‘Don’t do this,'” said US Secretary of State”, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
As the publication reminds, US President Joe Biden repeatedly cited the risk of escalation as a reason not to provide certain types of weapons that Ukraine requested.
The reporter asked Blinken how seriously the United States took Russian President Vladimir Putin’s nuclear weapons threats.
According to the secretary of state, the US was “very concerned” because it appeared that Putin was at least considering the option of using nuclear weapons.
Read also: Putin said that nuclear weapons are not needed if the Russian Federation has enough Oreshnik-type missiles
“Even if the probability rose from 5 to 15 percent, when it comes to nuclear weapons, there is nothing more serious,” Blinken was quoted as saying by the FT.
At the same time, according to him, nuclear weapons were one of the issues in which China probably helped the US, despite Beijing’s support for Russia:
“We have reason to believe that China contacted Russia and said, ‘Don’t do this.’
According to the Secretary of State, a similar communication could also have taken place when the US informed China about Putin’s plans to place nuclear weapons in space.
Blinken also rejects suggestions that the Biden administration has delayed providing the weapons. He claims that the White House had to take into account a number of factors, such as whether Ukraine would be able to operate and maintain these systems.
He adds that a similar dynamic could have taken place when the US told China that Putin planned to put nuclear weapons in space.
Read also: “We are standing at the dawn of the third nuclear era” – the head of the General Staff of Great Britain
A Ronald Reagan Institute study in December 2024 confirmed the effectiveness of Russia’s efforts to intimidate the American public with a nuclear strike.
Three-quarters of Americans (76%) fear that Russia could use nuclear weapons in a war with Ukraine. By 10% (compared to 2021), the number of those who fear that Russia may use thermonuclear weapons against the United States has increased (70%).
The US State Department called Russia’s nuclear rhetoric “irresponsible”, but emphasized that Washington sees no reason to change its nuclear position in response to the Kremlin’s hostile actions.