China asked Russia not to invade Ukraine until the Winter Olympics were over: reports

Multiple news outlets reported that senior Chinese officials asked their Russian counterparts to delay invading Ukraine until the Winter Olympics in Beijing were over.

The exchange between Chinese and Russian officials was detailed in a Western intelligence report. The news was reported by the New York Times.

According to the intelligence report, senior Chinese officials had direct knowledge of Russia's plans to invade Ukraine, though it is unclear how widely the information was shared. The NYT said that this does not mean that the Chinese and Russian presidents discussed the invasion.

Intelligence officials from the US and Europe told the Times that they had picked up on the exchange between Chinese and Russian officials. The report did not say how many officials were picked up. The Times reported that officials couldn't agree on how to read the report.

Some American and European officials told the Times that it was not coincidence that Russia invaded Ukraine after the Olympics.

The Chinese Embassy spokesman in Washington told the Times that the claims were speculative and intended to blame-shift and tarnish China.

China-Russia relations in focus

The closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics took place in Beijing. Russia said it would recognize the regions of Ukraine as republics. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.

Russia moved troops to be near the two countries in the months leading up to the invasion.

Even though the West has asked China to play a bigger role in talks with Russia, China has not condemned Russia.

The Times reported that senior Biden administration officials tried to get China to help prevent Russia from invading Ukraine, but they were turned down. At a Tuesday press conference, a China foreign ministry spokesman did not share actions that China would take to negotiate a ceasefire with Russia.

According to a transcript published on the ministry's website, Wang Wenbin said that China will continue to play a constructive role in a resolution of the situation in Ukraine.

The South China Morning Post reported that Putin and Xi met before the Winter Olympics opening ceremony, where they affirmed their unprecedented ties and rejected any attempts to expand NATO.