China gave Putin an ultimatum not to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine

2026-07-10 17:30:12Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Xi and Putin

Russia was one step away from using nuclear weapons in Ukraine. But according to recent information, it was China that stopped Russia from taking such a step. This fact was announced by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky.

“I think you’ve heard such voices in the Russian media: ‘What if we respond to Ukraine’s attacks with nuclear weapons?’ And it seems to me that this was the first time that China… responded directly in a form of an ultimatum – that there can be no thought of using nuclear weapons,” Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian president said he learned about Beijing's intervention from European leaders at the NATO summit in Ankara, where they discussed "China's role in ending the war [in Ukraine]." Zelensky added that he also discussed the topic with U.S. President Donald Trump, but he would prefer to keep the content of that conversation private.

Russia conducted nuclear military exercises in Belarus in May, although President Vladimir Putin has so far refrained from issuing direct nuclear threats against Kiev. Despite pressure from Russian politicians, Putin has said that Ukraine's attacks do not cause enough damage to require a nuclear response from his government.

Last month, St. Petersburg MP Viktor Perov urged his colleagues in the assembly to ask Putin to strike Ukraine with nuclear weapons.

"Our president was forced to launch a special military operation, but, unfortunately, everything did not go according to plan. Therefore, I believe that you, the deputies, should address the president with a request to start using nuclear weapons... which will lead the Ukrainian leadership to sign a peace agreement," Perov said.


Video