Antony Blinken: China dissuaded Putin from using nuclear weapons in Ukraine

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated that Russia had seriously considered using nuclear weapons in Ukraine, but China dissuaded it from doing so, Report informs via Ukrainska Pravda.

Blinken said the US was "very concerned" that Putin appeared to have at least contemplated the nuclear option.

"Even if the probability went from 5 to 15 percent, when it comes to nuclear weapons, nothing is more serious. We have reason to believe that China engaged Russia and said: 'Don’t go there'."

Blinken suggested a similar dynamic might have occurred when the US informed China about Russia’s plans to launch a nuclear weapon into space.

He emphasised that Putin has faced a strategic defeat, with NATO now larger and better resourced than ever.

Blinken also dismissed claims that the Biden administration had delayed providing weapons to Ukraine, explaining that it needed to consider factors such as Ukraine's ability to operate and maintain the systems.

US intelligence believes that Washington's decision to allow Ukraine to launch US-made weapons deep into Russia has not increased the risk of a nuclear attack by Russia.