At the same time the Winter Olympics are under way in Beijing, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping issued a joint statement highlighting what they called "interference in the internal affairs" by other nations. That is a reference to both totalitarian leaders facing justifiable criticism for their actions.
In a sign of their dangerous partnership, the two leaders declared their opposition to any expansion of NATO in Eastern Europe and affirmed the island of Taiwan belongs to mainland China.
Bob Maginnis, a national security expert at the Family Research Council, says Putin and Xi are witnessing the Olympics take place at the same time the world is “at the cusp” of armed conflict in Ukraine and Taiwan.
Regarding the current standoff in Ukraine, Maginnis says Putin has a short window to attack because of the region’s winter months, when the ground freezes and armored vehicles can spearhead an attack.
“And it’s frozen,” he says, “but I don't think it's going to be frozen into March too much.”
And that means, Maginnis further explains, that Putin has a narrow window for an attack after the Winter Olympics officially end in two weeks, February 20.
