The United States opposes China’s calls for a ceasefire in Ukraine, saying it would simply solidify the “Russian takeover” of Ukrainian territory and allow the Kremlin to prepare a new offensive, it said on Friday. a White House official.
“We do not support calls for a ceasefire at this time,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters ahead of Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s visit to Moscow next week.
“We … do not support calls for a ceasefire that the PRC will call at a meeting in Moscow, which will simply benefit Russia,” Kirby said.
The United States, which leads the Western coalition arming Ukraine and supporting its defense against more than a year of Russian invasion, fears the ceasefire will ease pressure on Russian forces and give the Kremlin the opportunity to consolidate its control over the occupied territory.
“The ceasefire is now effectively a ratification of the Russian conquest,” Kirby said. “Then Russia will only be able to use the ceasefire to further strengthen its position in Ukraine, to rebuild, re-equip and renew its forces so that they can resume attacks on Ukraine at any time.”
Kirby reiterated that President Joe Biden plans to speak with Xi by phone, but said a date for such a call is not yet known.
“The conversation is not (yet) scheduled. Although the President has made it clear that he looks forward to another opportunity to speak with President Xi, we are unable to arrange this at this time,” did he declare.
The White House is watching closely whether China will expand its diplomatic support for Russia, shifting to military assistance, including the transfer of ammunition or weapons.
Kirby said Beijing “isn’t ruling it out, but we also haven’t seen any signs, any confirmation that they made the decision to go in that direction or that they actually provided” weapons.
