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According to a person familiar with the matter, the US has warned European allies that Russia requested armed drones from China in late February, when it launched its invasion of Ukraine.
According to the people who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the request has alarmed Biden administration officials who are attempting to prevent China, Russia’s most powerful diplomatic partner, from coming to Vladimir Putin’s aid in the war.
On Monday, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met for six hours in Rome with China’s top diplomat, Communist Party Politburo member Yang Jiechi, to discuss a variety of issues, including Ukraine. One US official described the meeting as intense but declined to comment on whether the request for military aid was discussed, while Yang later called on all parties to exercise restraint in the conflict.
Prior to the meeting with Sullivan and Yang, American officials began disclosing Russia’s request for military and economic assistance. When asked about the drone request, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington referred to an earlier statement from Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Monday night.
“The United States has been maliciously disseminating disinformation against China,” Zhao said. “We have played a positive role in promoting peace talks.”
The Biden administration has attempted to persuade Beijing to use its clout with Moscow to aid in the resolution of a conflict that has now entered its third week. The president’s top advisers have pressed China to enforce sanctions imposed by the United States and its European and Asian allies on Russia’s economy.
A senior administration official admitted on Monday that the administration is deeply concerned about Russia’s alliance with China.
Another source of concern raised recently by Sullivan and other Biden administration officials is the possibility that Putin will use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine.
According to two people familiar with the plans, Sullivan is attempting to contact his counterpart and the secretary of Russia’s Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, to directly warn the Kremlin not to do so. The conference call has not yet been scheduled.
Sullivan and other Biden administration officials have stated that Russia’s false claims that the US and Ukraine may use chemical and biological weapons are evidence that Putin, frustrated by the slow progress of his invasion, is planning such an attack.
