OREANDA-NEWS The White House announced telephone talks between the President of the United States Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, the American leader will warn his Chinese counterpart about possible responsibility for supporting Russia, which has launched a special operation in Ukraine.

According to Blinken, Washington is ready to call on all countries, «especially those that have direct influence on Russia, to use all the levers they have» to force Russia to stop the military special operation in Ukraine.

«We believe that China in particular is obliged to use its influence on President Putin and defend the international rules and principles that it (China) professes», said the US Secretary of State.

Blinken stressed that Beijing is currently going in the opposite direction, «refusing to condemn Russia's special operation and trying to present itself as a neutral arbiter». According to the official, the United States is concerned about the statements of the Chinese authorities that the possibility of providing direct assistance to Moscow in the form of supplies of military equipment for its use in Ukraine is being considered.

Biden and Xi Jinping are scheduled to hold telephone talks at 09:00 (Washington time). At 18:00, the schedule of the head of the American state includes a regular briefing with the national security team.