US confident that China is considering sending lethal aid to Russia - CIA director

William Burns said this in an interview with CBS News, CNN reports.

“We're confident that the Chinese leadership is considering the provision of lethal equipment,” he said. 

According to the CIA director, the final decision has not yet been made, and the United States has no evidence of China's actual arms sales to Russia. At the same time, the US government is trying to deter China from making such a decision.

• On January 27, White House National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby said that the United States had warned China against supporting Russia in the war against Ukraine.

• On February 18, The Wall Street Journal reported that despite the sanctions, Russia continues to import civilian Chinese drones from DJI through its distributors and from the Gulf countries.

• And US officials claimed that China could be providing non-lethal military assistance to Russia for use in Ukraine, including uniforms or even bulletproof vests. So, after that, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that if the country supported Russia's armed aggression, it would have serious consequences for interstate relations.

• Later, US Permanent Representative to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield warned China against making a decision to provide Russia with lethal military assistance.

• On February 22, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson denied that the country would supply Russia with lethal weapons.

• The Biden administration is considering releasing intelligence indicating that China is weighing whether to supply weapons to Russia to support its war against Ukraine.

• On February 24, US President Joe Biden said that the United States would react if China supplied Russia with lethal weapons for the war against Ukraine.