The United States on Thursday sanctioned two Chinese companies and a Russian affiliate involved in making and shipping attack drones and warned the two countries to halt cooperation boosting the Ukraine war effort.

The United States has imposed sanctions on two China-based drone suppliers and their alleged Russian partners, the first time it has penalized Chinese companies for supplying complete weapons systems to Russia for its war in Ukraine.

The US has issued a series of sanctions against Chinese and Russian companies linked to the manufacturing of attack drones used in the Ukraine conflict.

U.S. President Joe Biden urged the West on Friday to sustain its support for Ukraine against Russia's full-scale invasion as Kyiv faces a bleak winter and a looming U.S. presidential election raises worries about the strength of Washington's own resolve.

The president, in a trip to Berlin that lasted barely a day, also joined Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany in expressing new optimism about the prospect for peace in the Middle East.

Germany's President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he hoped the United States would remember its allies were indispensable as he awarded President Joe Biden Germany's highest order of merit on Friday for services to transatlantic ties.

Russia's ties with North Korea have grown since the start of the Ukraine war on February 24, 2022, particularly as Moscow faces increasing international isolation. In March, Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution, effectively ending international monitoring of sanctions against North Korea.

He outlined the five-point plan to Ukraine’s parliament on Wednesday without disclosing confidential elements that have been presented in private to key allies, including the United States.

U.S. Defense Secretary LLoyd Austin said on Saturday he could not confirm reports that North Korea has sent troops to Russia ahead of what could be a deployment to the war in Ukraine, but added such a move would be concerning,