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Washington: The United States reportedly warned its allies that Russia had asked China for armed drones late last month, as it initiated its offensive into Ukraine. The reported move had alarmed Washington, Bloomberg reported, citing sources.
White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Beijing's top diplomat Yang Jiechi had met for six hours on Monday. At the meeting arranged in Rome, they discussed a range of issues, including Ukraine, but it is not clear whether the Russian request came up. Anyway, after the meeting, Yang called for a restrain of both Russia and Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in Washington mentioned an earlier statement by Beijing that the US has been spreading disinformation with malicious intentions and targeting China. China has been playing a constructive part, promoting peace talks, the statement had said.
Washington sought Beijing to use its influence with Moscow to reign in the Ukraine conflict and had urged it to support the sanctions on the Russian economy imposed by the US and its allies. The Biden administration is deeply concerned about China siding with Russia.
The US is further concerned about Russia using chemical or bioweapons against Ukraine. Biden administration is about to communicate with Moscow to warn against such weapons. US said that Russia's false claims that US or Ukraine such weapons against them shows how frustrated Putin is on the slow pace of its operation into Ukraine and is preparing for such an attack.
US's Jake Sullivan and his Russian counterpart met last in November 2021, when reports emerged about the building up of Russian troops along Ukraine's periphery.