Over the weekend, there were global headlines about a potential explosion at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, allegedly provoked by Russia. Ukrainian intelligence cited a “serious threat” at the nuclear plant, which is under Russian occupation, and Ukraine has been conducting drills to prepare for a potential radioactive disaster. This tense situation comes after weeks of high-level diplomatic moves involving Russia, China, and the United States. Analysts warn that there is a real risk of military conflict between these major powers. Former vice president Mike Pence connected the conflict in Ukraine to China, stating that supporting Ukraine against Russian invasion would send a message to China about their military ambitions. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently visited China, but military communication between the two countries has not yet been restored. Concerns have been raised about the lack of open channels between the U.S. and China, with worries that private Chinese companies may provide material and technology to the Russian military. The Russia-Ukraine conflict has put the relationships between Russia, the U.S., and China in the spotlight and has drawn international attention. Blinken’s visit to China coincided with Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s visit to Germany and France. Additionally, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the U.S. was seen as a message to China about countering their dominance in the Indo-Pacific region. Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed the delivery of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, which is the first time Russia has deployed nuclear weapons outside its territory since the Soviet Union dissolved. Belarus has stated that it would not hesitate to use Russian nuclear weapons if attacked. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg pledged further help to Ukraine to modernize its military, but Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov responded by suggesting that if NATO wants to fight in Ukraine, they should do so. In the midst of these tensions, there have been reports that China is negotiating with Cuba to establish a joint military training facility, raising concerns in the U.S. about Chinese military activities in the region. Chinese President Xi Jinping has also warned about the need to prepare for “worst-case scenarios,” which some interpret as the danger of war. Overall, the recent diplomatic activities of Russia, China, and the U.S. are seen as a reflection of sensitive international geopolitical risks and have brought the international situation to a critical point.