Anthony Blinken. Photo: Reuters
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has suffered a strategic defeat and that NATO is stronger than ever. He said this in a commentary to the Financial Times.
Nuclear threat: the role of China
According to Blinken, the US was seriously concerned that the Kremlin was seriously considering the use of nuclear weapons in a war against Ukraine.
“Even if the probability of such a scenario has increased from 5 to 15 per cent, it is already extremely serious,” Blinken said.
He noted that China played a key role in deterring Russia from this dangerous step. According to the US side, Beijing called on Moscow not to use nuclear weapons:
“We have reason to believe that China has engaged Russia and said, ‘Don’t do this’.”
Blinken also noted that a similar dynamic could have taken place when the US warned China about Russia’s plans to launch nuclear weapons into space.
The Kremlin’s strategic defeat
The US Secretary of State stressed that the war in Ukraine has significantly weakened Russia’s geopolitical position:
- NATO is stronger, bigger and better resourced than ever.
- Russia’s international isolation, sanctions and failures on the battlefield demonstrate Putin’s strategic defeat.
The situation in the international arena
Despite the Kremlin’s attempts to intimidate the world with nuclear rhetoric, the West remains united in its support for Ukraine, and countries such as China are deterring Russia from crossing red lines.
Blinken’s statement was yet another indication that Russia is losing its leverage on the global stage, while Ukraine and its allies are strengthening their positions in the fight for democratic values and security.
