Biden to talk to Chinese leader about invasion of Ukraine

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday about economic competition between the two countries and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki announced the call in a statement Thursday, stating that it is “part of our ongoing efforts to keep the lines of communication open” between Washington and Beijing.

The call will follow a tense seven-hour meeting on Monday in Rome between White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese foreign policy adviser Yang Jiechi.

The United States has warned that China is spreading Russian disinformation in order to create a pretext for Russia to attack Ukraine with chemical or biological weapons. Versions have also emerged — denied by the Kremlin — that Russia has asked China for economic assistance following the harsh sanctions imposed by the West.

At the meeting in Rome, Sullivan asked Beijing for more clarity as to its relationship with Russia, and warned that any attempt to help China evade sanctions will cost him.