INTERNATIONAL: The Chinese Red Cross will offer an additional 10 million yuan , $1.57 million USD of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin has announced told on Monday,March 21.

China's promise of aid follows previous pledges of aid to Ukraine including one of 5 million yuan, $786,000 USD from earlier this month.

Wang's comments at a regular news briefing in Beijing came days after U.S. President Joe Biden has warned his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, on Friday,March 18 of "consequences" if Beijing gave material support to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Russia's assault on Ukraine, now in its fourth week, has stalled along most fronts. Russia has failed to seize a single major Ukrainian city much less capture the capital Kyiv or swiftly topple the government of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. But Russia has pounded residential areas, causing massive destruction.

^{PHOTO: SOUNDBITE FROM CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON}