Russia denies asking China for military help

Russia has not asked China for help in carrying out the military operation in Ukraine, said Russian presidential spokesman Dmitri Peskov, Russian agencies report.

At a press conference in Moscow, Peskov was asked to comment on reports in US media that Russia had asked China for military assistance, to which the spokesman replied with a resounding “no”, according to the sources.

US media assured on Monday that Russia has asked China for military support and economic assistance, including drones, for the invasion of Ukraine that began on February 24, citing US officials as sources.

China also denied this information today.

“It is completely false, it is pure misinformation. China has made its position on the crisis in Ukraine clear and consistent. We play a constructive role and assess the situation impartially and independently. Denigrating China’s position is not acceptable”, Foreign spokesman Zhao Lijian said.

Peskov was also asked about the possible duration of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which they call “military operation” and said that the “Kremlin had nothing to say about it”.

“Nothing can be said for now”, he replied when asked if the Kremlin could reveal when the special operation would be completed.

And he also kept silent when asked if Russian President Vladimir Putin was satisfied with the progress of the special operation in Ukraine, the Tass agency describes.

He had previously indicated that Moscow’s plans for this operation are progressing according to the original plan and will be completed on time and in full, although he did not offer further details.

At the beginning of the operation, Putin ordered the Defense Ministry to refrain from immediately storming large Ukrainian cities, including kyiv, Peskov explained.

According to the Klemlin spokesman, the Ukrainian units had organized firing positions and deployed heavy weapons in homes and in densely populated areas that when attacked “would have entailed heavy losses among civilians. The operation was originally planned with (these circumstances) in mind.”he indicated.