No evidence of China supplying lethal aid to Russia, NATO chief says 

CNN reported the information citing Stoltenberg's speech during the presentation of NATO’s annual report in Brussels.

"We haven’t seen any proof that China is delivering lethal weapons to Russia, but we have seen some signs that this has been a request from Russia, and that this is an issue that is considered in Beijing by the Chinese authorities. China should not provide lethal aid to Russia. That would be to support an illegal war," the NATO Secretary General warned.

Stoltenberg believes that Xi's three-day visit to the Kremlin signals the closer ties that have been developing between China and Russia in recent years.

"We see how China and Russia are coming closer and closer in the military domain — joint exercises, joint patrols, naval and air patrols — in the economic domain and also in the political and diplomatic domain. So the meeting in Moscow is part of that pattern where China and Russia are working more and more closely and building a stronger and stronger partnership," Stoltenberg emphasized.

Xi Jinping is on a state visit to Russia on March 20 to 22.

• On March 20, Xi Jinping had an informal meeting with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. It lasted 4.5 hours.

• During his meeting with Putin, Xi Jinping said that China would continue to play a constructive role in resolving the "Ukrainian issue." According to the Russian leader, Russia has carefully studied China's "peace plan" and is open to negotiations.

• Chinese leader Xi Jinping has invited Vladimir Putin to visit China this year.

• On Tuesday, March 21, an official meeting between Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping began in the Kremlin.