Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the Russia-Ukraine conflict in a phone call with US President Joe Biden on March 18.
"The Ukraine crisis is not what we want to see," Chinese President Xi Jinping told US President Joe Biden during a two-hour phone call on March 18.
"These events once again show that nations should not be allowed to meet each other on the battlefield. Conflict and confrontation do not benefit anyone, peace and security is what the international community is for. The economy should be given the most importance," Xi added.
According to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the phone call was held "at the request" of the US. The two leaders discussed bilateral issues as well as international issues.
The Chinese leader stressed that Beijing always "supports peace and opposes war", calling on all parties involved in the conflict between Moscow and Kiev to follow the path of diplomacy.
"All sides need to jointly support Russia and Ukraine in dialogue and negotiation to bring results and lead to peace," China's foreign ministry said in a statement after the phone call.
Xi said China and the United States must adjust their bilateral relations in the right direction, at the same time shoulder international responsibilities and act for world peace.
For his part, President Biden "underlined his support for a diplomatic solution to the crisis" in Ukraine. According to the White House announcement, the US leader also warned Beijing about "the effects and consequences if China provides material support to Russia".
Earlier, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan on March 13 also warned Beijing will face consequences if it helps Russia evade sanctions. The United States and its European allies have imposed sanctions that they previously considered "unlikely" or "last resort" such as embargoes on oil and gas or removing Russia from the international payment system. SWIFT economy, after Moscow launched a special military operation in Ukraine.
Mr. Sullivan said the US suspected China had information about Russia's plans, before Moscow launched a military operation in Ukraine on February 24. However, he said that China did not seem to know in advance the true scale of the campaign.
The US national security adviser said the administration of President Joe Biden was monitoring any economic and resource aid from China to Russia, adding that it was a "concern" for Russia. The White House.
The Financial Times and the Washington Post, citing US officials, said on March 13 that Russia is believed to have asked China for military equipment since Moscow launched a military operation in Ukraine. A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in the US denied the information, saying that Beijing's priority is "preventing the tense situation in Ukraine from escalating or spiraling out of control".
The Russia-Ukraine crisis puts China in a dilemma when both Russia and Ukraine are Beijing's partners. China is Ukraine's largest trading partner and an important buyer of Ukrainian military equipment. Meanwhile, Russia and China recently declared that the two countries' relationship is a strategic partnership "without limits".
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