How China pulled Russia’s nuclear brakes in the nick of time

Tensions around the potential for a nuclear disaster amidst the ongoing Russia–Ukraine conflict have surged in recent months, drawing worldwide attention.

In a crucial intervention, China’s President Xi Jinping reportedly advised Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from employing nuclear weapons in the Ukraine conflict, as reported by the Financial Times.

According to both Western and Chinese officials, it is suggested that China played a pivotal role in swaying Russia’s decision to hold back on the thinly veiled nuclear threats. The warning was said to have been given by Xi during his state visit to Moscow in March, marking one of his initial overseas travels post the implementation of strict zero-Covid policies in China.

China’s crucial role in halting Russian nuclear threat in Ukraine conflict. Photo courtesy of Presidential Executive Office of Russia/Wikimedia Commons.

Russia has repeatedly alluded to potential escalation in the conflict, warning that Western support to Ukraine could possibly lead to nuclear war. The apprehension surrounding these threats escalated when Belarus, an ally of Russia, hosted Russian nuclear weapons. Despite the international outcry, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko asserted that such actions did not infringe any international agreements.

During one of his televised statements, Putin discussed the prospect of deploying tactical nuclear weapons. However, he emphasized that such a step would be taken without violating international treaties on nuclear non-proliferation. It was later revealed that Putin had conferred with Lukashenko, and the Belarusian leader had concurred with the strategy.

On the subject of China’s stance, Andriy Yermak, a top advisor to the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, praised Beijing‘s opposition to Russian threats, terming it an “important position”. Yermak expressed this view on the messaging app Telegram, along with a screenshot of the Financial Times article.

Further concerns were raised as Zelensky warned his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, about Russia’s “dangerous provocations” at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, currently under Moscow’s control.