US Envoy Predicts Beijing 2022 Could Impact Ukraine Invasion

By i24
Posted on 01/26/22 | News Source: i24

Sherman says 'President Xi Jinping would not be ecstatic if Putin chose that moment to invade Ukraine'

A senior United States diplomat said on Wednesday that the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics could influence the timeline of a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“We all are aware that the Beijing Olympics are beginning on February 4th, the opening ceremony, and President Putin expects to be there,” United States Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said during virtual talks held with Ukraine’s Yalta European Strategy forum.

“I think that probably President Xi Jinping would not be ecstatic if Putin chose that moment to invade Ukraine,” she said, adding that this “may affect his timing and his thinking.”