“Ukraine crisis is something we don’t want to see,” Xi tells Biden at 2-hour tele talk

The Chinese president reportedly said that State-to-state relations cannot go to the stage of military hostilities. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier said that Biden would make clear to Xi that China will bear responsibility if it supported Russia's "aggression" and that Washington "will not hesitate to impose costs." 

New Delhi: During the two-hour-long tele talk, Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly told US President Joe Biden that – "The Ukraine crisis is something that we don't want to see".

Xi told Biden that conflicts and confrontations such as the events in Ukraine are in the interests of no one. State-to-state relations cannot advance to the stage of confrontation, and conflicts and confrontations are not in the interests of anyone. 

The Chinese president reportedly said that State-to-state relations cannot go to the stage of military hostilities. The Chinese state media claimed the US side had requested the call. 

Interestingly, a Chinese aircraft carrier sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait on Friday before the call. The USS Ralph Johnson, an Arleigh Burke guided-missile destroyer, shadowed the carrier at least partly on its route.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier said that Biden would make clear to Xi that China will bear responsibility if it supported Russia's "aggression" and that Washington "will not hesitate to impose costs." Blinken said the Biden administration was also concerned that China was considering directly assisting Russia with military equipment for use in Ukraine. Of course, Beijing has denied this. Washington is also concerned that China could help Russia' circumvent' Western economic sanctions.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine, now in its fourth week, has killed hundreds of civilians, reduced city areas to rubble and sparked a humanitarian crisis as millions flee the country.

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman has said that China needs to stand on the right side of history. "It needs to ensure that it does not backfill, financially or in any other way, sanctions that have been imposed on Russia," said US Deputy Secretary of State.

Moscow has renewed accusations of a US-backed biological weapons programme in Ukraine, allegations that were dismissed as "disinformation" by most members of the UN Security Council.

Representatives of the United States and the United Kingdom–amongst others–rebuked Russia for requesting a Security Council meeting on Friday to discuss its claims. Last week, the UNSC also held a session at Russia's request to hear similar allegations.

China and the United States should "shoulder international responsibilities," Xi was quoted as saying, as well as declaring that "peace and security are the most valued treasures of the international community." It is not clear if Xi directly criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin's onslaught against Ukraine.