The United States has communicated to China that the latter will face negative consequences if it continues to support Russia by providing lethal weapons in the war against Ukraine, reported ANI citing Pentagon press secretary Pat Ryder. Pentagon said that it has asked China to stop the supply as it would extend the duration of Moscow’s ‘illegal occupation’ of Ukraine.
"We have communicated with China about the negative consequences of providing lethal support to Russia. Not only it would extend the duration of Russia's illegal occupation of Ukraine and result in thousands of innocent killed in Ukraine and will surely put them in camps of countries that are looking to eliminate Ukraine as a nation," said Pentagon press secretary Pat Ryder, as quoted by ANI.
However, Ryder said that Pentagon does not have any indications that China has provided lethal assistance to Russia. On the issue of change in US calculations of supplying longer-range fires to Ukraine, after Britain's promise of cruise missiles and long-range UAVs effect, Ryder said, "No, it doesn't. You know, as we've said all along, we're going to continue to stay in active discussions with Ukraine, with our allies and our partners on what their most urgent security assistance needs are. As you know, we have provided a wide variety of capabilities, including things like artillery, air defence, armour, ammunition, and -- and we'll continue to do that going forward."
Ryder added that the US is in close contact with Ukraine after it made a renewed push for Western warplanes again, reported ANI.
"I don't have anything to announce today in regards to any type of fighter aircraft. Again, we're going to stay in very close contact with Ukraine and our allies and partners to look at their near-term and longer-term security needs," said Ryder.
Notably, Ukrainian continues to press for modern fighter jets from its Western allies after it said that Russian forces are no longer capable of large-scale offensive action. The claim comes as the Ukrainian military said it was able to capture more than 10 Russian positions near Bakhmut, CNN said in its report.
The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine said Russian forces are no longer capable of large-scale offensive action and are mainly on the defensive mode, but Moscow is able to sustain the current rate of missile attacks.
As per a CNN report, Defense Intelligence spokesperson Andriy Yusov told Ukrainian television Monday that Russia "is on the defensive" when it comes to discussing "the entire front line" and they are without the resources "to repeat large-scale offensive actions."
"They have been preparing for defense all this time, and this is a serious factor that the Ukrainian command certainly takes into account when preparing for the de-occupation of Ukrainian territories," the official added, as quoted by CNN.
Yusov added the goal of Russian missile strikes have changed and their intensity has lessened since the winter when there were high-volume attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. He claimed that the Russians had a shortage of some types of missiles, such as the Kalibr.
“They are actively looking for ways to compensate for and change not only the Shaheds [Iranian-made attack drones.]. ..They are looking for weapons all over the world. So far, they have not been very successful," he said.
However, Yusov added that the Russians are "capable of sustaining the intensity of attacks,” at least for now.