WASHINGTON. Russia has asked China to provide it with military equipment and support in the war in Ukraine after President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion last month, according to US officials.
Russia has also asked China for more economic assistance to help counter the blows dealt to its economy by sweeping sanctions imposed by the United States and European and Asian countries, the official said.
U.S. officials, determined to keep secret their means of gathering intelligence at the request of Russia, declined to elaborate on the type of military hardware Moscow is seeking. Officials also declined to discuss any Chinese response to the requests.
Chinese President Xi Jinping strengthened his partnership with Mr. Putin and supported him as Russia stepped up its military campaign, destroying cities in Ukraine and killing hundreds or thousands of civilians. US officials are closely monitoring China to see if it responds to any requests for help from Russia. Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, is due to meet in Rome on Monday with Yang Jiechi, a member of the Chinese Communist Party’s elite Politburo and director of the party’s Central Foreign Affairs Committee.
Mr. Sullivan intends to warn Mr. Yang of any future attempts by China to support Russia in its war or harm Ukraine, the United States and its partners.
“We are telling Beijing directly, privately, that large-scale efforts to evade sanctions or support Russia in response to them will definitely have consequences,” Mr. Sullivan said on CNN on Sunday.
“We will not allow this to continue and we will allow Russia to escape these economic sanctions from any country, from anywhere in the world,” he said.
Mr. Sullivan made no explicit mention of potential military support from China, but other US officials spoke of the request from Russia on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of diplomatic and intelligence matters.
The Biden administration is trying to spell out to China the consequences of its alliance with Russia and the penalties it will incur if it continues or increases its support. Some US officials argue that it may be possible to dissuade Beijing from increasing aid to Moscow. Chinese leaders may be content with Moscow’s rhetorical support and may be reluctant to engage further with Mr. Putin by providing military support for the war, these US officials say.
Mr. Sullivan said China “knew before the invasion that Putin was up to something,” but added that Mr. Xi or his aides may not have known the full scope of the Russian leader’s plans. “It is quite possible that Putin lied to them just as he lied to the Europeans and others,” he said.