The United States Has Warned China Against Assisting Russia
According to the US, China would face repercussions if it assists Russia in evading sanctions during its invasion of Ukraine.
China has expressed willingness to provide military support to Russia, according to unnamed US officials who spoke to numerous news sources.
China's foreign ministry has accused the United States of circulating false information. Russia has denied requesting military assistance from China.
The talks took place ahead of a meeting between top US and Chinese officials in Rome.
According to media reports citing US sources, Russia has approached China for military equipment, including drones, in recent days.
According to media reports, the US cautioned allies on Monday that China had hinted at a plan to provide military and economic support.
The news came as US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met with Yang Jiechi, China's top diplomat, in Rome for negotiations.
According to a readout of the meeting, "Mr Sullivan discussed a range of challenges in US-China ties, with extensive discussion of Russia's war against Ukraine." "They also emphasized the need of keeping lines of communication open between the US and China."
Mr Sullivan previously told CNN that the US was "communicating directly, privately to Beijing that large-scale sanctions evasion activities or support to Russia to backfill them will undoubtedly have consequences."
"We will not allow that to happen, and we will not allow any country, anywhere in the globe, to provide a lifeline to Russia through economic sanctions," he said.
He went on to say that while the US felt China knew Russian President Vladimir Putin was "planning something" before the attack, Beijing "may not have recognized the full nature of it."
Russia's military activity has enraged much of the globe for the past three weeks.
Mr Sullivan stated, "Because it's very probable that [Mr] Putin lied to them in the same manner that he lied to Europeans and others."
In response, Zhao Lijian, a spokeswoman for the Chinese foreign ministry, said the US had "been disseminating falsehoods against China on the Ukraine."