China's Xi calls for immediate end to Ukraine conflict in call with Biden

Chinese President Xi Jinping has told his American counterpart, Joe Biden, that the ongoing war in Ukraine has to end as soon as possible.

During a nearly two-hour-long video-conference, Xi said Washington and its NATO allies needed to hold dialog with Moscow to solve the "crux" of the Ukraine crisis and resolve the security concerns of both Russia and Ukraine, according to China's official Xinhua News Agency.

"Conflict and confrontation are not in the interests of anyone," Xi told Biden.

"The world is neither peaceful nor tranquil," Xi said to Biden, adding, "The Ukraine crisis is not something we want to see.”

"The top priorities now are to continue dialog and negotiations, avoid civilian casualties, prevent a humanitarian crisis, cease fighting and end the war as soon as possible," he said.

Xi said Beijing and Washington should "shoulder international responsibilities," and that "peace and security are the most valued treasures of the international community."

US: China will face consequences if it helps Russia evade sanctions

The United States says China will face consequences if it helps Russia evade sanctions imposed by Washington and its allies in response to Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine.

Biden to Xi: No 'material support' to Russia

According to the White House readout of the two leaders' call, Biden told President Xi that Beijing would face consequences if it provides “material support” to Russia.

“President Biden detailed our efforts to prevent and then respond to the invasion, including by imposing costs on Russia,” the White House said on Friday. “He 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, however, failed to provide details of what those consequences would be.

US officials said ahead of the conversation between Biden and Xi that the US president was expected to threaten repercussions should China lend military or economic help to Russia in the war.

Biden "will make clear that China will bear responsibility for any actions it takes to support Russia's aggression and we will not hesitate to impose costs," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said ahead of the call. He also urged Beijing to use its "leverage" on Moscow.

Earlier on Friday, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman also told CNN that China needed to "understand that their future is with the United States, with Europe, with other developed and developing countries around the world.”

Russia launched a military offensive against Ukraine on February 24.

China calls on US not to harm Beijing’s interests while dealing with Russia

China has called on the United States not to harm Beijing’s legitimate rights and interests while dealing with Russia over its ongoing military offensive against Ukraine.

China, the world's second-biggest economy, has developed close ties with Russia in recent years. The two world powers issued a lengthy 5,000-word statement early in February against the expansion of NATO, calling the US-led military alliance a relic of the Cold War.

According a former adviser on China to former President Barack Obama, President Xi is trying to balance competing priorities amid the conflict between the West and Russia. Brookings Institution fellow Ryan Hass said that President Xi "really places a lot of value in China's partnership with Russia but at the same time he does not want to undermine China's relations in the West."

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