Biden and Xi discuss Russia’s war against Ukraine and “other issues of mutual concern” in a video link

President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping almost two o’clock on Friday morning spoke on a protected video call, discussing Russia’s war against Ukraine and “other issues of mutual concern.”

Biden accepted a call that began at 9:03 a.m. ET on the White House’s situation room. The conversation ended at 10:53 a.m. ET.

The White House described the call as part of “the administration’s ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication” between the United States and the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

The White House said Biden and Xi would discuss “managing competition” between the United States and China. and “Russia’s war against Ukraine and other issues of mutual concern.”

RUSSIA CONSIDERS UKRAINE: UPDATES

China’s foreign ministry said after the meeting that Xi had highlighted “serious challenges” around the world.

“The Ukrainian crisis is something we do not want to see,” China said. “Relevant events show once again that relations between states cannot lead to confrontation. Conflict and confrontation are not in anyone’s interests. Peace and security are the most valuable treasure of the international community.”

“As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and the world’s two largest economies, we must not only lead Sino-US relations in the right direction, but also take on appropriate international responsibilities and work for peace and tranquility around the world,” the statement said. statement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

RUSSIA CONSIDERS UKRAINE: UPDATES

U.S. intelligence officials said Russia had asked China for military and economic assistance after the invasion of Ukraine. In trying to protect intelligence sources, U.S. officials are reluctant to elaborate on the type of assistance required.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach attend the closing ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics at the National Stadium in Beijing, the capital of China, on February 20, 2022. (Photo by Li Xueren / Xinhua via Getty Images)

A senior administration official said this week that the Biden administration has “deep concerns” about China’s “ties” to Russia amid Moscow’s multi-front war against Ukraine.

The official shared the concern after White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met with his Chinese counterpart, Director of the Chinese Foreign Affairs Committee Yang Jiechi, on Monday in Rome, Italy.

“We have deep concerns about China’s interaction with Russia at the time, and the national security adviser has been directly concerned about these concerns and the possible consequences and consequences of some actions,” the official said, without commenting directly on reports from Russia. Chinese aid after the invasion of Ukraine.

The official, however, claimed that the Biden administration “directly and privately informs China of our concerns about what support other countries may provide to Russia.”

Biden’s administrator is “deeply concerned” about China’s “ties” with Russia amid the war against Ukraine, a spokesman said

China has not yet condemned the invasion, although on Wednesday the official praised the Ukrainian people.

“We will always respect your state, we will develop relations based on equality and mutual benefit. We will respect the path chosen Ukrainiansbecause it is the sovereign right of every people, ”Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine Fan Xiangong, who moved from Kyiv to Lviv with the Chinese embassy after the Russian invasion on February 24, told Lviv officials on Monday. Lviv regional government.

“In this situation, which you have now, we will act responsibly. We have seen how great the unity of the Ukrainian people, and hence its strength,” – added Fan.

The German news agency BILD reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was halfway to Beijing on Wednesday night when his plane turned sharply and returned to Moscow. It is unclear whether Putin called him back or whether the Chinese abruptly canceled any scheduled meeting. Fox News has not yet verified the report independently.

This week, the White House warned China of the “consequences” if Beijing provided assistance to Russia.

“The world is watching closely,” said White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki. “There will be consequences if they violate our sanctions.”

But Russia has denied reports that they have asked for help from China, and Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian has dismissed allegations that Beijing has agreed to send such aid to Russia as “disinformation.” He argued that China remained “completely objective, impartial and constructive” in the “Ukrainian question”, refusing to call the conflict a “war”.

RUSSIA ASKS CHINA FOR MILITARY AND ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE IN UKRAINE AFTER CONFLICT CONFLICT

Zhao also echoed Russia’s line on US-backed Ukrainian laboratories near the border that create bioweapons – claims by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the White House, the Pentagon and the State Department unequivocally deny.

Last week, the White House warned that Russia could use “chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine” or could create a “false flag operation” using it after the Kremlin accused the United States of participating in biological weapons research in Ukrainian laboratories and said they saw “Chinese officials repeating these conspiracy theories.”

A senior defense official also said that Russia’s accusations against the United States were “part of a Russian textbook: to claim to be victims, to create a false narrative to try to justify their own aggressive actions.”

White House warns of “consequences” WHEN CHINA PROVIDES RUSSIAN ASSISTANCE: “The world is watching closely”

“It’s absurd. It’s ridiculous. It’s not true,” the official said.

This week, Sullivan, speaking with Russia’s Security Council secretary on Wednesday, called on Russia to “stop attacks” on Ukrainian cities and towns, and warned of “consequences” if Russia decides to use any chemical or biological weapons against Ukraine.

Sullivan spoke with General Nikolai Patrushev on Wednesday as Ukraine and Russia continue talks on the current crisis.

On Wednesday, Zelensky addressed Congress, showing a video showing the deaths and destruction of Ukrainian civilians, especially women, children and the elderly, as Russian troops bombed cities and moved toward the capital Kyiv three weeks after the invasion. began.

In response, Biden announced on Wednesday additional $ 800 million in additional military assistance to Ukraine, for a total of $ 1 billion in U.S. assistance since Saturday.

BIDEN OPENS MORE PARAMETAL SYSTEMS, DRONS FOR UKRAINE, WARNING TO “DEBT AND COMPLEX BATTLES”

The new package includes 800 Stinger anti-aircraft systems; 2,000 Javelins, 1,000 light armored weapons and 6,000 AT-4 anti-armor systems; 100 drones; 100 grenade launchers, 5,000 rifles, 1,000 pistols, 400 machine guns and 400 rifles; more than 20 million rounds of ammunition for small arms and grenade launchers and mortars; 25,000 sets of body armor; and 25,000 helmets. The equipment will be transferred directly from the Ministry of Defense to the Ukrainian military, Biden said.

Friday’s call was the fourth engagement between the presidents of the United States and China since Biden took office.

Biden and C. last time spoken during a virtual meeting on November 15th.

Senior officials told Fox News that during the call, Biden did not explicitly discuss the origins of the COVID-19 C pandemic, but instead supported the importance of “transparency” in global health issues, focusing on “broader health security issues” in an effort to end pandemic.