U.S. Warns Europe That Russia Wants Armed Drones From China
- Biden’s national security advisor meets with China’s Yang
- Jake Sullivan seeks call with Russian counterpart, Patrushev
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The U.S. has warned European allies that Russia asked China for armed drones in late February as it was beginning its invasion of Ukraine, according to people familiar with the matter.
The request has alarmed Biden administration officials seeking to prevent China -- Russia’s most powerful diplomatic partner -- from coming to President Vladimir Putin’s aid in the war, according to the people, who described the matter on the condition of anonymity. China is among the world’s largest exporters of armed unmanned aerial vehicles and has sold them to countries such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.