Biden Administration Alarmed by Reports of China Supplying Lethal Aid to Russia for War in Ukraine

The Biden administration has been alarmed by initial U.S. intelligence suggesting that China is considering supplying lethal aid to Russia for its war in Ukraine. According to one current and one former U.S. official familiar with the intelligence, the information was gathered from Russian government officials.

U.S. officials have since worked to corroborate the information from other sources of intelligence, as well as with allies who have provided additional streams of information. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence matters.

John Kirby, spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, said on Friday that China could still take the escalatory step of providing lethal military aid to Russia. He also noted that F-16 fighter jets are not a “key part” of the agenda for U.S. President Joe Biden’s meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz this afternoon, but the two leaders will discuss what Ukraine will need.

The Biden administration has been closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine, and is taking steps to ensure that the country has the resources it needs to defend itself. The U.S. is also working with its allies to ensure that any potential Chinese aid to Russia is not used to further escalate the conflict.