China's top diplomat visits Russia, eyeing Ukraine

STORY: The meetings come after the United States warned Beijing against providing material support to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The war in Ukraine began just weeks after Putin and China's President Xi Jinping declared a "no limits" partnership, causing concern in Western countries.

Xi has stood by Putin since Russia launched its "special military operation" in Ukraine, resisting Western pressure to isolate Moscow. Chinese-Russian trade has soared since the invasion of Ukraine, and Russia has sold Asian powers including China greater volumes of oil.