ROME – A meeting between the United States and China to discuss the regional and global security impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on Monday morning in the Eternal City, according to Italian foreign ministry sources.

 US security advisor Jake Sullivan met the Director of the Chinese Foreign Affairs Commission Yang Jiechi, to confirm that China will not come to Russia's aid, following US reports to the Financial Times that Moscow requested military support from Beijing.

 "China will have to deal with serious consequences should it help Russia evade sanctions imposed by the West in response to the war," the White House said.

 A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington said he was unaware of any plans to provide Russia with extra military equipment. “China is deeply concerned and saddened by the situation in Ukraine. We sincerely hope that the situation will ease and peace will return soon,” he said.

 Meanwhile a videoconference between delegations from Kiev and Moscow took place Monday morning. Compared to the previous stages of the negotiations there seems to be more optimism. According to Mikaylo Podolyak, head of the negotiations for Ukraine, Russia is “beginning to speak constructively” and they hope to obtain “some results within a few days.” The delegation is working to create the conditions for a meeting between the two presidents, Zelensky and Putin.

 Premier Draghi’s diplomatic advisor Luigi Mattiolo will meet with Sullivan on Tuesday.

ln