Zelenskyy says China warned Russia against nuclear use

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed on Wednesday that China has delivered a firm, "ultimatum"-style warning to Russia against any use of nuclear weapons, marking what he described as Beijing's most unequivocal stance on the issue since the start of the full-scale invasion.

Speaking during an online briefing with journalists following the NATO summit in Ankara, Zelenskyy said European leaders had relayed to him that Chinese representatives "responded very seriously, very firmly and clearly to Russia's statements in the media on the possible use of nuclear weapons".pravda+1

"It is very important to stress that not only Europeans, not only America, but also China — seems, for the first time — responded very clearly and very firmly, even in ultimatum form, that there cannot even be thoughts about the use of nuclear weapons," Zelenskyy said, according to Ukrainska Pravda.pravda

China and Trump on the Agenda

Zelenskyy confirmed he had discussed Beijing's role in the war during his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the summit. "We certainly discussed China with President Trump — their role in this war, their participation or potential participation and their capabilities," he said, adding that he preferred to keep details of that conversation private.pravda

The disclosure came as NATO wrapped up its two-day summit in Turkey, where the alliance pledged 70 billion euros in military equipment, assistance, and training for Ukraine. Trump also announced that Washington would grant Ukraine a license to domestically produce Patriot RTX Corporation ↗ 0.15% air defense systems, a move long sought by Kyiv.aljazeera+3

A Shifting Diplomatic Landscape

China's reported hardening on the nuclear question adds a new element to the diplomatic maneuvering around the war. Beijing has previously expressed general opposition to the use of nuclear weapons but has avoided direct confrontations with Moscow on the subject. In 2023, a Financial Times report indicated that Chinese President Xi Jinping had privately cautioned Putin against nuclear use, a development that top Zelenskyy adviser Andriy Yermak called an "important position".reuters

Zelenskyy noted that some European leaders told him they had detected a broader shift in Beijing's attitude toward the conflict. The remarks come as Trump projected optimism about peace prospects, telling reporters in Ankara that both Russia and Ukraine wanted to see the war settled. Ukraine's ambassador to the United Nations, Sergiy Kyslytsya, called the Zelenskyy-Trump meeting in Ankara "possibly the best" between the two leaders to date.english.nv+2