Home › Politics › Nuclear denials and Chinese backing on 19 April 2022
Nuclear denials and Chinese backing on 19 April 2022
Summary
A look back at a day when Moscow ruled out nuclear use and Beijing affirmed its support for Russia's president.
What did Moscow and Beijing signal to the world on 19 April 2022? Two messages stood out, and both concerned how far Russia's partners and adversaries should expect the war to go.
The first came from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Amid American allegations that Russia might use nuclear weapons during its invasion of Ukraine, he said the country would not use them and would continue to rely on conventional weapons. The war was then in the Battle of Donbas.
The second came from China. Deputy Foreign Minister Le Yucheng said Beijing had decided to strengthen its strategic ties with Russia and confirmed its support for President Vladimir Putin. He spoke while Russian forces faced accusations of war crimes over the killing of civilians.
Why the pairing matters
Taken together, the statements showed Russia seeking to calm fears of nuclear escalation while retaining diplomatic backing from a major power. Lavrov's remarks addressed the American allegations directly. Le Yucheng's came at a moment of international scrutiny of Russian conduct.
The day did not alter the course of the fighting, but it set out the positions of Moscow and Beijing in plain terms.
