Outgoing U.S. Secretary Blinken Warns of Rising Nuclear Threat from Putin, Cites China's Intervention

Jan 4, 2025, 09:04 AM

Outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed concern over the possibility of Russian President Vladimir Putin using nuclear weapons in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. In an interview with the Financial Times, Blinken stated that the U.S. was 'very concerned' as intelligence suggested Putin was considering the nuclear option, with the probability of such an action rising from 5% to 15%. Blinken emphasized that 'when it comes to nuclear weapons, nothing is more serious.' He also revealed that the U.S. believes China may have intervened to dissuade Russia from nuclear escalation, with Beijing reportedly telling Moscow, 'Don’t go there.' This statement underscores the heightened tensions and the international efforts to prevent nuclear conflict in the region.