Ukraine war: Biden adviser Jake Sullivan to meet senior Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi amid tensions over Russia
- National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan warns Beijing that ‘there will absolutely be consequences’ if it helps Russia evade sanctions
- Russia reportedly has asked China for military equipment and other assistance
China and the United States announced Sunday that senior Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan would meet Monday in Rome to discuss the crisis in Ukraine.
In separate statements released simultaneously Sunday morning, Washington and Beijing said that Chinese Communist Party Politburo member and Foreign Affairs Commission director Yang would meet Sullivan in Italy on Monday to exchange views on “regional” issues and to keep the lines of communication open.
The sides will “discuss the impact of Russia’s war against Ukraine on regional and global security”, the US National Security Council said in its slightly more detailed statement, attributed to spokeswoman Emily Horne, while Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian cited “international and regional issues of common concern” without mentioning Ukraine by name.
This came as Russia said on Sunday it was counting on China to help it withstand the pain of Western sanctions, even as the White House warned Beijing it would face severe “consequences” if it helped Russia evade them.
On Sunday, the Financial Times and Washington Post reported that Russia has also asked China for military equipment and other assistance to support its Ukraine invasion, without detailing the type of equipment, citing US official sources.
The White House did not immediately respond. Liu Pengyu, Chinese embassy spokesman in Washington, said he was not aware of such a request, adding that all efforts must be made for a peaceful resolution.
