As war in Ukraine continues, US officials issue warning to China

As the war in Ukraine enters a new phase after the one-year mark since Russia launched its invasion, U.S. officials are starting to weigh in on China’s possibly growing role in the war, with national security adviser Jake Sullivan saying that the west has been issuing “strong warnings” to Beijing.

After Biden administration officials warned that China is considering providing military aid to Russia, Sullivan told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday that it’s not only the U.S. trying to lobby China to keep away from the war.

“We’ve actually had intense and very positive consultations with our NATO allies, with other members of the coalition supporting Ukraine.” Sullivan said. “Senior officials from Europe are directly talking to senior officials in China expressing their own strong warnings about China moving forward in this regard.”

US says China's involvement will come at a 'real cost'

Sullivan declined to provide specific details on how the U.S. would respond should Beijing follow through on reports it is considering providing military aid to Russia, but told CNN’s “State of the Union” that it would come “at real cost to China.”

“Beijing will have to make its own decisions about how it proceeds, whether it provides military assistance,” said Sullivan. “But if it goes down that road, it will come at real cost to China.”

CIA Director William Burns told CBS’ “Face the Nation” in an interview that aired Sunday that the U.S. is “confident” that China is considering providing lethal equipment to Russia.

Asked about reports that China is considering providing drones and ammunition to Russia, Burns declined to provide specifics, but said there is no indication that China has followed up on the discussions.

“We don’t have evidence that there’s actually been a transfer,” said Burns, emphasizing that current U.S. policy is to deter Beijing from doing anything of the sort.

Domestically, some Republican lawmakers are still making calls on President Joe Biden to send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, but Biden said in an interview with ABC’s David Muir that he is ruling out the jets “for now.”

Rep. Michael McCaul, RTexas., chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed disappointment on ABC’s “This Week.”

“This whole thing is taking too long,” McCaul said of the war, arguing the jets would bring a faster conclusion to the war. “It really didn’t have to happen this way.”

Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, also criticized the White House, saying it has “slow-rolled critical military weapons systems” on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Ukraine has been intensely lobbying the U.S. and the west for additional military aid as Kyiv is reportedly preparing for a counteroffensive. While in Kyiv in a visit last Monday, Biden said the U.S. would be providing Ukraine an additional $500 million in weaponry.

But even then, Sullivan said the Biden administration should pick up the pace on providing additional weapons including F-16s.

“To me, that is a real blunder,” he said. “We need to get them what they need now and listen to the Ukrainians.”