US President Joe Biden has reiterated his warning to China against coming to Russia’s aid in Ukraine, saying that he made clear such assistance would incur “consequences” in a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping last week.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels on Thursday, the United States president said Xi understands that China’s economic interests lie with the West, not Russia.
“I made no threats, but I pointed out the number of American and foreign corporations who left Russia as a consequence of their [Russia’s] barbaric behaviour,” Biden said of his conversation with the Chinese leader.
Biden added that he told Xi that “he’d be putting himself at significant jeopardy” in his efforts to strengthen economic ties with the US and Europe if China were to move forward with aid to Russia.
Washington has been cautioning Beijing against helping Moscow for weeks amid reports that Russia has requested military assistance from China.
Since Russia launched its all-out invasion of Ukraine on February 24, China has taken a neutral stance publicly, backing talks to end the deadly conflict while urging “maximum restraint” and de-escalation.
US officials have declined to share their assessment on whether they think China has decided to assist Russia with its war efforts.
China has abstained from United Nations votes criticizing Russia over the war, including a UN General Assembly resolution that passed overwhelmingly on Thursday.
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