China has issued its most explicit warning to Russia regarding the use of nuclear weapons in the Ukraine conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed the direct message from Beijing to Moscow during the NATO summit in Ankara. He described it as the first outright Chinese ultimatum on the subject, information relayed by European leaders.
The move is a significant diplomatic shift. While Chinese President Xi Jinping cautioned Vladimir Putin against escalation during a 2023 visit to Moscow, this direct attribution of pressure on its key strategic partner is new.
China maintains a no-first-use nuclear policy. The warning comes as Russia conducts large-scale, unannounced nuclear exercises involving tens of thousands of personnel.
For global markets, the development underscores sustained geopolitical risk. While the immediate impact on digital assets was muted, analysts note that prolonged uncertainty tends to compress risk appetite, making assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum key sentiment indicators.