There is a “real cost” for China in supplying Russia with weapons for its war in Ukraine. This is the United States’ new warning to Beijing. “In our view, this war is indeed a real complication for Beijing, and Beijing must make its own decisions about how to proceed, whether to provide military assistance — says White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan — but if it is chooses to do so by road, it will incur real costs for China.”
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“And I believe the Chinese leadership is taking that into account when making decisions,” Sullivan added on CNN, adding that the United States “doesn’t just address direct threats” in diplomatic contacts with Beijing. “We explain what is at stake and the consequences – he explained – and how things can develop, we do this in a clear and specific way behind closed doors.”
According to US intelligence reports, China is considering sending drones and ammunition to Moscow, but there is no evidence Beijing has made a final decision.
Crimea Chapter: “What will eventually happen to Crimea, as part of this war and a deal, the Ukrainians have to decide with US support,” Sullivan replied when asked if President Joe Biden would support Kiev’s decision to retake Crimea to strive for as a goal to declare victory.
Sullivan is also very reluctant to answer the question of whether the US can provide this level of military aid to Kiev within a year: “I can say that war is unpredictable, a year ago everyone feared that Kiev would fall within a few days, a year later, Joe Biden stood by President Zelenskyy in Kiev.”
Finally, Sullivan reiterates that Washington “for now” excludes the delivery of F16s: “At this stage of the war, tanks, combat vehicles, armored vehicles, artillery, tactical air defense systems are needed for the Ukrainians to retake the occupied territory – he says – which are F16s a question for later”.