The U.S. has warned on China's support for Russia. Now the EU says 'we need to remain vigilant'

Europe's apical diplomat said the West needs to beryllium vigilant erstwhile it comes to enactment for Russia from China, aft U.S. officials warned that Beijing could beryllium astir to nonstop lethal weapons to Moscow.

China's relation successful planetary authorities successful the aftermath of Russia's penetration of Ukraine past twelvemonth has been a peculiarly delicate 1 for occidental nations.

The CIA Director Bill Burns told CBS News past week that helium is assured China is considering providing lethal assistance to Moscow. This could spark a large escalation successful the war, giving Russia's struggling subject a important boost.

"China has ever told america they are not providing arms to Russia and they don't program to bash it, precise overmuch explicitly," Josep Borrell, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, told CNBC Friday. "But certainly, we person to stay vigilant."

His comments came astatine the extremity of a G-20 overseas affairs gathering successful India which was marked by a stark part of opinions toward Russia's penetration of Ukraine.

"There is simply a large divide, and Russia volition proceed the war," helium added.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met his Russian counterpart concisely connected the sidelines of the G-20 gathering, successful what represented their archetypal in-person interaction since the penetration started much than a twelvemonth ago. Blinken had antecedently told NBC that determination is accusation that China is "strongly considering providing lethal assistance to Russia."

Meanwhile, Jake Sullivan, the White House nationalist information adviser, said past week that if Beijing does supply lethal weapons to Ukraine, it "will travel astatine existent costs to China."

So far, China has not categorically denied the accusations.

At a press briefing Friday, Mao Ning, spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, said the state had made its presumption clear.

"On the Ukraine issue, China's presumption has each on been nonsubjective and fair. We are committed to promoting talks for bid and moving for the governmental colony of the crisis," she said.

"The U.S. has been pouring lethal weapons into the battlefield successful Ukraine and heightening tensions, portion spreading mendacious and malign accusations against China. We bash not judge coercion oregon unit from the U.S. What the U.S. should bash is facilitate de-escalation and beforehand talks for bid alternatively than substance the occurrence oregon constituent fingers astatine different countries."

China presented successful February a 12-point program to extremity the warfare successful Ukraine. Authorities successful Kyiv person said they are unfastened to considering immoderate of these points, but besides reiterated that immoderate bid accord would person to impact the afloat withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.