WASHINGTON: Russian invasion in Ukraine is continuing for the ninth day in a row. Meanwhile, an American daily ‘The New York Times’ has reported that China’s intervention was the reason for Russia’s delay in attacks, despite stationing its troops in the Ukraine borders, for many days. China had asked Russia to delay the Ukraine invasion until the end of the winter Olympics in Beijing. The daily has reported about the Chinese involvement in the war, citing some top-level US government officials and a European intelligence report.

China had direct knowledge about Russia’s war plans much before the invasion started. When Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing for the opening ceremony of the winter Olympics, President Xi Jinping of China, had asked him not to go to war until the end of the Olympics. However, the Chinese embassy in Washington has rejected the media reports. “These claims are speculation without any basis, and are intended to blame-shift and smear China”, said Liu Pengyu, the Chinese embassy spokesman. Putin had arrived in China on February 4.