President Biden, in a nearly two-hour video call on Friday, warned China’s leader Xi Jinping that his country would face significant repercussions if it provides aid to Russia at a time when Moscow is pressing ahead with an invasion of Ukraine that has been met with global condemnation.
Biden “described the implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia as it conducts brutal attacks against Ukrainian cities and civilians,” the White House said in a statement.
The call was part of an urgent U.S. effort to head off any Chinese moves to provide economic or military help to Russia as America and its allies try to shut down Moscow’s financial lifelines.
At a time when many Western countries have imposed tough sanctions on Russia, China remains one of its few potentially powerful sources of support.
