WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden made a phone call for about two hours Friday morning with Chinese President Xi Jinping discussing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The call was seen as a critical test on whether Biden could persuade China to stay on the sidelines of the Ukrainian conflict, and reject Russia’s requests for military or economic assistance.
Both Biden and Xi agreed on the need to promote peace and support the humanitarian crisis. But they strongly disagree on who is responsible for the suffering in Ukraine, and the Chinese leader who refuses to allow Russia to respond on its own by an illegal attack.
Instead, an official reading from Beijing made it clear that Xi’s position was that the US and Europe provoked Russian President Vladimir Putin to invade Ukraine by increasing NATO in Eastern Europe.
Biden’s warning to Xi
During the call, Biden “explained the impact and consequences if China provides tangible assistance to Russia,” the White House said.
Pentagon officials say last week Moscow requested military and economic assistance in Beijing to fight Ukraine, and that initial intelligence reports have suggested China have agreed.
After Friday’s call, no Chinese or American officials will say whether Biden has changed Xi’s thinking about Russia in any way.
The White House has stressed that Biden ‘s intention has never been to get direct confirmation from Xi that China will not help Russia, just to clarify the decisions facing Beijing.