Xi Jinping urged Vladimir Putin to refrain from nuclear threats and rhetoric.

As Ukraine has pushed back against Russia’s invasion with the help of allied countries, Russia has repeatedly made threats to retaliate with nuclear weaponry, both against Ukraine and anyone who aids them. While none of these threats have been acted upon, the fact that Russia is even making them to begin with has been a major point of concern for the global community. These concerns have reached a point that even Russia’s allies have issued warnings.

During a discussion with visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, recently re-elected Chinese President Xi Jinping made a public statement to Russia and global community that nuclear weapons must not be employed in this or any other international conflict.

Xi said that the world must “jointly oppose the use of, or threats to use, nuclear weapons,” and that it must “advocate that nuclear weapons cannot be used, a nuclear war cannot be waged, in order to prevent a nuclear crisis.”

Standing next to Sholz, Xi said that “Both of us … hope the crisis ends soon.”

“We have agreed that threatening nuclear attacks is irresponsible and dangerous,” Scholz told reporters after his meeting with Xi. “I have told President Xi the importance for China to exert its influence on Russia.”