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.
Details: Blinken said the US was "very concerned" that Putin appeared to have at least contemplated the nuclear option.
Quote from Blinken: "Even if the probability went from 5 to 15 per cent, 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'.".
Details: 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.
Background: 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. »