The Financial Times (FT) first broke the news on July 5, citing Chinese and Western officials. According to the outlet, the Chinese leader made the remarks during his visit to Russia in March. FT's sources said Chinese officials are using the conversation to boast Beijing's ability to stop Moscow's threats of nuclear warfare, with a senior U.S. official saying "the Chinese are taking credit for sending the message at every level."

Josep Borrell, the European Union's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, remarked that China's visit to Russia "reduces the risk of nuclear war and they have made it very, very clear."

A former Chinese government official attested to the conversation between Xi and Putin, adding that Beijing's stance against nuclear weapons was included in its 12-point position paper on peace in Ukraine. An incumbent senior advisor to Beijing agreed with the former official. They added that deterring Putin from using such a weapon has been central to China's campaign to repair damaged ties with Europe.

According to the senior advisor, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war is undermining China's effort to court Europe. If Moscow launches a nuclear strike on Ukraine or one of its European allies, it would risk turning the entire continent against China.

Concurring with the Chinese senior advisor, a third official privy to the talks remarked that if Russia were to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, "it's all downside for China."