Chinese officials reportedly asked Russia to delay the invasion of Ukraine and only move forward after the Winter Olympics concluded, according to media reports citing an official from US President Joe Biden’s administration. The Winter Olympics, which were being hosted in Beijing, ended on February 20 and Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.

A western intelligence report, which was cited by the Biden administration official, claimed that senior officials in China had direct knowledge of Russia’s plan to move into Ukraine, New York Times reported.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping also met with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on February 4, before the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics started.

A day after the Olympic Games ended, Russian President Putin ordered his forces to enter separatist-controlled regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in Ukraine and declared them as “Republics”, establishing diplomatic relations.

Chinese diplomats, however, dismissed the claims made in the report. The spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in Washington Liu Pengyu told Reuters that “the claims mentioned in the relevant reports are speculations without any basis, and are intended to blame-shift and smear China.”

China, alongside India and Cuba, was also seen abstaining its vote in various United Nations meetings. 

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Chinese ambassador Zhang Jun cited “dramatic changes of the situation in Ukraine” while explaining the abstention. He reiterated Beijing’s support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, and for the peaceful settlements of all disputes in line with the United Nations Charter.

While western countries attempt to isolate Putin from the financial systems of the world, China’s bank regulator said the country would not impose financial sanctions on Russia. China is a major buyer of Russian oil and gas and the only major government that has refrained from criticising the Ukraine invasion.