Russia is running out of guns.
Supplies could come from China – the USA warns of this.
US Senator Lindsey Graham has even become abusive.
Washington/Beijing – Powerful message to Beijing: US Senator Lindsey Graham has now warned China against interfering in the Ukraine war in view of possible arms deliveries to Russia.
"If you jump on the Putin bandwagon, you're dumber than dirt," the South Carolina Republican ranted on ABC.
Graham is known and notorious for his banging choice of words.
But the mob attack is likely to heat up the already tense atmosphere between the major powers.
Ukraine war: USA fear arms delivery from China to Russia – US Senator Graham rabbles
US Senator Graham responds to a warning from the US government in the interview.
At the weekend, Foreign Minister Antony Blinken expressed concern about possible arms deliveries from China to Russia in view of the Ukraine war.
It is possible that China "is considering providing deadly support" to Putin, the diplomat told CBS.
When asked what he meant by that, Blinken replied: "Weapons, primarily weapons." US President Joe Biden had previously warned Chinese President Xi Jinping against taking this step.
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Are they still working together in the Ukraine war?
Chinese President Xi Jingping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
© Dmitri Lovetsky/dpa
Since the beginning of his war of aggression against Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has sought close ties with China.
But those in power in Beijing mostly refused to make a clear commitment to the Kremlin as an ally.
However, since the West began supplying heavy weapons such as rocket launchers and main battle tanks, the choice of words in China has also changed.
Critical words in the direction of the USA and the other NATO countries have made people sit up and take notice in recent weeks.
Is China supplying weapons to Putin for aggressive war?
There is concern in Europe
But does Xi Jinping actually go one step further and, conversely, is now supplying heavy weapons to Russia?
So far there has only been a public warning from the USA.
But Europe is also concerned.
"That would be a turning point - and not for the better," said Asselborn on Deutschlandfunk before a meeting with the other EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
If China actually delivers weapons to Russia, this must have consequences for dealings with the People's Republic.
"I hope it doesn't come to that," said Asselborn.
"But disguised arms deliveries would also have consequences."
Tanks, drones, anti-aircraft defenses: weapons for Ukraine
Tanks, drones, anti-aircraft defenses: weapons for Ukraine
At the Munich Security Conference, Graham rushed forward and called on the Biden administration to declare Russia a state sponsor of terrorism.
This would allow the US to punish nations that support Russia in its war with Ukraine that began a year ago, such as through economic sanctions.
Currently, the United States already has four nations on this list, namely: Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria.
In the US, the US Senator is well known for his power of speech.
At the beginning of the Ukraine war, he called on snipers to assassinate Putin.
It remains to be seen to what extent Beijing can be provoked by the US Republican.
After the spy balloon affair, relations between the US and China are considered extremely tense.
The Biden government really doesn't need new disruptive fire.
Arms delivery to Russia: Beijing describes Blinken's statement as fake news
The rulers in Beijing initially remained silent on Graham's statement.
Only Blinken's allegations about supplying arms to Russia were denied.
Washington is spreading "misinformation," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin.
Beijing will not accept "any hints from the US on Sino-Russian relations".
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List of rubrics: © Dmitri Lovetsky/dpa