At the very beginning of the war in Ukraine, China was going to supply weapons to Russia at the request of President Vladimir Putin, but changed its plans after the warning from the USA. Washington Post columnist David Ignatius was told by sources familiar with the matter. They said the weapon was already "ready for shipment" when Chinese President Xi Jinping received a call from US President Joe Biden, who warned him about the consequences of helping Russia. This caused an "angry reaction" from the Chinese leader, who wondered if Biden was threatening him. Since then, Beijing has "abstained from direct shipments," according to WaPo interviewees.
At the same time, they say, the Chinese leader has assigned Liu He, a former vice premier and one of his most trusted representatives in negotiations with the West, to oversee quiet aid to Russia's military efforts. At the same time, China sent a message to Ukraine and its European allies offering a possible settlement of the military conflict. WaPo mentions the call took place on March 18, 2022. After that, Xi Jinping and Joe Biden talked for almost two hours. According to a statement posted on the White House website, during the conversation, Biden presented the Chinese leader with the view of the United States and its allies on the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and also warned of the consequences for Beijing if it helps Moscow.
