State Department: Russia could not have sustained war against Ukraine if not for China

The United States considers China's restoration of a Russian military-industrial base "deeply problematic" and will take appropriate action if necessary.

Source. This was stated by the Deputy Spokesperson for the US State Department Vedant Patel, the BBC reports.

Chinese and Russian leaders Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, who is visiting China, on Thursday promised a "new era" of partnership between the two most powerful rivals of Washington, which they accuse of "seeking global domination".

The State Department called on China to make a choice between supporting Putin and ties with the West.

"If China says it wants good relations with Europe and other countries, it cannot continue to fuel the greatest threat to European security," a State Department official told Newsweek, stressing that this is the position of not only Washington but also the European Union, NATO and the G7.

The State Department official spoke to Newsweek stressed that Russia could not have continued its war against Ukraine without China's support.

"No country should provide Putin with a platform to promote his war of aggression against Ukraine," Newsweek quoted its source as saying. "We cannot return to business as usual or turn a blind eye to the clear violations of international law that Russia has committed in Ukraine. Those responsible for war crimes must be brought to justice."

During informal talks with Putin on the second day of his visit, Xi Jinping said that Beijing would support a peace conference on Ukraine, which would be approved by both Kyiv and Moscow.