The U.S. warns China not to give Russia military or economic aid.

President Biden’s nationwide safety adviser met with a high Chinese language official on Monday to warn in opposition to China giving Russia navy or financial help, because the Kremlin struggles with the aftermath of its invasion of Ukraine.

With its armed forces experiencing surprising difficulties in Ukraine and its financial system badly broken by worldwide sanctions, Russia has requested assist from China, U.S. officers mentioned this weekend. Monetary analysts have mentioned that Russia may default on its money owed this week.

The nationwide safety adviser, Jake Sullivan, met in Rome for seven hours with Yang Jiechi, a member of the Communist Occasion’s Politburo and director of the social gathering’s overseas affairs fee. The White Home is making an attempt to peel away one of many few potential allies President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has as his forces step up their assault on Kyiv and different Ukrainian cities.

“We now have been very clear each privately with Beijing and publicly with Beijing that there can be penalties for such assist,” Ned Worth, the State Division spokesman, mentioned at a press briefing in Washington, in response to questions concerning the Rome assembly.

The assembly passed off partially “to exactly clarify our considerations,” he mentioned, including, “We are going to be certain that no nation is ready to get away with such a factor.”

Equally, Jen Psaki, the White Home press secretary, mentioned, “Assist of any form, there can be penalties for that.” Neither she nor Mr. Worth elaborated on these penalties.

Administration officers haven’t mentioned how China has responded to the Russian request, or whether or not any assist had been supplied or delivered.

Whereas Monday’s assembly was scheduled lengthy earlier than Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, it passed off proper after American officers revealed that they’d obtained intelligence that Russia requested for navy assist in its bogged-down invasion, maybe together with Chinese language-made drones and intelligence assist.

China has mentioned nothing about receiving such requests from Russia, however the two nations have drawn nearer not too long ago, united by having a typical adversary in United States.