The United States and its allies have been successful in communicating with China about not providing material support to Russia, according to a senior US Treasury Department official. Though China and Russia have shown signs of partnership, the US has not seen Beijing provide significant material support to Russia, the official added. As a result, Russia is still relying on support from North Korea and Iran.
The US and its allies imposed sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine over a year ago, and have continued to increase pressure. The US has also been cracking down on sanctions evasion. While US officials have had limited travel to China, European counterparts have been communicating actively and visiting.
US-China relations have been at a low point since Washington normalized ties with Beijing in 1979 and switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei. The US previously expressed concern that China was considering providing lethal support to Russia. The US is now warning countries that it will take action against companies and individuals providing material support to Russia for its war effort in Ukraine.
Top US economic officials will be traveling to various countries this month to speak with businesses about the risks of providing material support to Russia. Brian Nelson, the Treasury’s Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, will be traveling to Switzerland, Italy, Austria, and Germany. Elizabeth Rosenberg, the assistant secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes, will be traveling to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
At the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank next week, the US will provide select opportunities for counterparts and businesses to meet with top US intelligence officials to obtain information on how Russia is using its GRU military intelligence agency and Federal Security Service (FSB) to try and evade sanctions and export controls.
The US would like to see the United Arab Emirates (UAE) do more in terms of sanctions compliance, as the US has previously criticized the UAE for poor compliance. The US has also been working with its allies in Europe to pressure Russia, including through sanctions on individuals and entities, and has been providing military support to Ukraine.
The US and its allies have been successful in communicating with China about not providing significant material support to Russia, and are warning countries against such support. US officials will be traveling internationally to speak with businesses about the risks of providing material support to Russia, and the US is working with its allies to pressure Russia through sanctions and military support to Ukraine.