russia has asked China for lethal weapons – Stoltenberg

Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg informed about "signs" that russian president vladimir putin has requested lethal weapons from China.

Stoltenberg said this during the presentation of NATO's annual report in Brussels on March 21, CNN reports.

"We haven't seen any proof that China is delivering lethal weapons to russia, but we have seen some signs that this has been a request from russia and that this is an issue that is considered in Beijing by the Chinese authorities," Stoltenberg said.

He warned China against providing lethal aid to russia, which, according to the secretary-general, would mean "supporting an illegal war."

According to Stoltenberg, Chinese leader Xi Jinping's visit to russia and his meeting with vladimir putin indicate the rapprochement between Beijing and moscow that has been taking place in recent years.

"We see how China and russia are getting closer in the military sphere – joint exercises, joint patrols at sea and in the air, in the economic sphere, as well as in the political and diplomatic sphere. So the meeting in moscow is part of this trend, in which China and russia are working more closely and building a stronger partnership," he said.