U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, who will meet with China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi in Rome on March 14, helped Moscow avoid drastic sanctions on the war in Ukraine. He warned Beijing that he would face “absolutely” consequences.
Sullivan told CNN that the United States is aware that China is aware that Russia is planning some action in Ukraine, even if Beijing does not understand the full extent of what was planned. Said that.
Now he said Washington is closely watching how much Beijing is providing economic or material support to Russia and will impose consequences if that happens.
“We are in direct and personal contact with Beijing. It will definitely have an impact on large-scale sanctions, evasive efforts, or support for Russia to backfill them,” Sullivan said. .. “We do not allow it to move forward, nor do we allow any country in the world to have a lifeline from these sanctions to Russia.”
A senior government official said in a meeting between Sullivan and Yang that the war in Ukraine would be an “important topic.”
“This conference is taking place in the context of Russia’s unjust and brutal war against Ukraine. I’m looking forward to China working with Russia to advance its vision of world order … Russia’s war with Ukraine on regional and global security. “
Speaking on anonymous terms, sources added that no particular outcome was expected from the meeting.
The United States said on Saturday that it would rush Ukrainian troops with additional weapons worth up to $ 200 million to protect themselves from Russian bombardment in Europe’s largest war since World War II.
Russia’s assault, which Moscow calls a “special military operation,” trapped thousands of civilians in a besieged city and fled 2.5 million Ukrainians to neighboring countries.
The United States and its allies have imposed unprecedented widespread sanctions on Russia, banned its energy imports, and provided Ukraine with billions of dollars in military and humanitarian assistance.
Together, they have personally appealed to China, the Gulf countries, etc., who did not condemn Russia’s aggression to participate in Russia’s isolation from the world economy.
Russia’s major trading partner, Beijing, refused to call Russia’s actions an invasion, but Chinese leader Xi Jinping last week had a virtual meeting between German Prime Minister Olav Schortz and French President Emmanuel Macron. Later, he called for “maximum restraint” in Ukraine.
Xi also expressed concern about the impact of sanctions on global finance, energy supply, transportation and supply chains amid growing signs that Western sanctions are limiting China’s ability to buy oil in Russia.
“It would be disappointing to think that Sullivan could convince China to participate in sanctions against Russia,” Hu Xijin, a former editor-in-chief of the state-sponsored Global Times, said on Twitter.
The International Monetary Fund said last week that the crisis could prevent China from achieving its 5.5% growth target this year, the chief said in talks with China’s top central banks to pressure Russia to end the war. He said he expected.
During his stay in Rome, Sullivan will also meet with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s diplomatic adviser Luigi Matioro to continue coordinating Russia’s strong global response to the “choice war” of President Vladimir Putin. Said a source.
The United States and a group of seven developed countries increased pressure on Russia on Friday by demanding that Russia’s “most favored nation” trade status be revoked.
About 46% of Russia’s economy in 2020 was trade, much of it with China, its largest export destination.
By Andrea Shalal and Michael Martina
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