Chinese official says he has no knowledge of reported Russian aid request

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in the US says he has no information about a reported request from Russia for Beijing to provide military aid.

“I’ve never heard of that,” Liu Pengyu says in a statement to CNN.

“The high priority now is to prevent the tense situation from escalating or even getting out of control. … China calls for exercising utmost restraint and preventing a massive humanitarian crisis,” he’s quoted adding.

Earlier, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told the station that the US had concerns over any support China gives Russia. He said a move by Beijing to help Moscow evade sanctions will carry “consequences.”

“We are communicating directly, privately to Beijing, that there will absolutely be consequences for large-scale sanctions evasion efforts or support to Russia to backfill them,” Sullivan said. “We will not allow that to go forward and allow there to be a lifeline to Russia from these economic sanctions from any country, anywhere in the world.”