The U.S. secretary of state told the Financial Times that pressure from Beijing dissuaded Vladimir Putin from using nuclear weapons.

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. Source: Blinken's comments to the Financial Times Details: Blinken said the US was "very concerned" that Putin appeared to have at least contemplated the nuclear option.

Russia considered a nuclear strike on Ukraine. China has warned Moscow against using nuclear weapons, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the Financial Times. He notes the United States was “very concerned” because Russian President Vladimir Putin was probably considering a nuclear option against Ukraine.

With soaring inflation and the ruble dropping to one of its lowest levels against the dollar since President Vladimir Putin launched his war in Ukraine, this year Russians will have to pay more for the dish, which is traditionally served alongside caviar and tangerines, before the New Year is toasted in.

President-elect Trump could help end Russia's war in Ukraine if he leverages his "unpredictability," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a new interview. Why it matters: Trump vowed on the campaign trail to swiftly bring an end to the nearly three-year long war — a task he said he is uniquely qualified to accomplish because of his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview that President-elect Trump is “capable of stopping” Russian President Vladimir Putin and that he will be a key factor in the outcome of the war in Eastern Europe,