Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated on Saturday that Moscow expects military and informational provocations from the US and Ukraine on the eve of the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, which is scheduled to run from the 4th of February to the 20th.

Zakharova commented on claims made by Bloomberg that “Chinese leader Xi Jinping asked Russian President Vladimir Putin not to invade Ukraine during the Olympics” by a post on her Telegram channel: The Bloomberg report is "not even a fake [news], but a special informational operation of corresponding American services."

"So we are waiting for provocations - both informational and, it cannot be ruled out, military ones - from the US and US-led Kyiv regime. That would be like them, especially since they have considerable experience in it," Zakharova added.

Chinese embassy dismisses US media reports

On its account, the Chinese Embassy in Russia said that US media reports about Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s alleged request to Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding Ukraine are “fake and provocative”.

The Chinese embassy in Moscow added in a statement that "the Bloomberg publication saying that the head of China allegedly asked the head of Russia not to attack Ukraine during the Olympics, so as not to spoil the holiday, is a fake and a provocation."

According to the statement, China supports a diplomatic solution to the Ukrainian conflict in accordance with the Minsk agreements.

These developments came amid western claims of a Russian troop buildup on the border with Ukraine and preparing for a military invasion - accusations Russia has long been denying.

The West had previously threatened Russia with "heavy sanctions", but Putin said that Moscow pursues a peaceful foreign policy; however, it has the right to defend its security.