The leaders of the US and China met for more than three hours on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Indonesia in order to encourage some Russian restraint, as Putin's threat of nuclear conflict continued to hang over the invasion of Ukrainian.
The White House, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Biden's press conference after the meeting give a glimpse into what transpired. According to the White House, the two leaders' "opposition to the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine" was "underscored" by their "agreement" that a nuclear war should never be fought and can never be won."
During a meeting with the German chancellor earlier this month, the same position was taken by the Chinese leader on Russia's nuclear threats. For him to call out the nuclear blackmail of Putin in a meeting with Biden is significant.
When it came to Russia and Ukraine, the Chinese statement was more vague. Confrontations between major countries must not happen. It did not call for the withdrawal of Russia from its invasion. Western countries were worried that China would take Russia's side in the Ukraine conflict because of the "no-limits friendship" between the two men.
The US and China maintained their previous positions. The US criticized China for its "coercive and increasingly aggressive actions" against Taiwan. Biden said in his press conference that there was no need for a new cold war. US officials claim that China is preparing to seize Taiwan. The heat was turned down by Biden. He doesn't think there is an attempt by China to invade Taiwan.
On the same day as the US and Russia had a discussion, a high-level meeting took place. The director of the CIA met with his Russian counterpart in Turkey and warned against Russia using nukes or other terror weapons.
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