At this point in time, the whole world is waiting to see what Putin will do next.
After all, with bumbling Biden in charge, the United States is not exactly the world leader at the moment. In fact, an arguable power vacuum opened up promptly after the 2020 elections, one that has been promptly exploited by Russia and China.
In light of the fact that the Biden administration apparently couldn’t hold its own against the Taliban, it is really no surprise that Putin has confidently amassed well more than 100,000 troops near the border of Ukraine.
And, unlike the United States’ current president, Putin appears to be more than happy to defend Russia’s borders. In fact, he seems intent on expanding them.
Fox News contributor Daniel Hoffman, who previously worked for the CIA, observes an array of options that Putin may take, all while watching and waiting to see what the West does (or doesn’t do) next.
“He could blockade the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov,” Hoffman reflected, “He could launch a full-throttle assault on Kyiv, which we would obviously see. He could also use his Spetsnaz guys, special forces guys – and they’re inside Ukraine already – to topple this Zelensky government. That’s also an option.”
In other words, Putin could do just about anything, from within and from without, not to mention in the cyber world in addition to the physical world.
In fact, the possibilities are really quite endless, particularly when accounting for the potential, albeit indirect, assistance that China is likely to provide.
“I have a high level of confidence Putin will do something,” Hoffman added, “As far as what that is, I’m not even sure if Putin has decided yet.”
Probably because Putin is busy evaluating exactly how much he can get away with.
After all, Biden’s ill-timed “minor incursion” remark will undoubtedly influence the extent of Russian involvement, especially in the face of a not-exactly-united NATO.
Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman has a more specific timeframe, arguing that Putin is likely to do just about anything between now and mid-February, though she also acknowledges having “no idea” about whether or not Putin has fully determined exactly what he is going to do next.
“I have no idea whether he’s made the ultimate decision,” Sherman remarked, “but we certainly see every indication that he is going to use military force sometime perhaps (between) now and the middle of February.”
Sherman also theorized that Putin is unlikely to irritate China, especially if it turns out that Russia needs China’s assistance in its potential onslaught of the West.
“We all are aware that the Beijing Olympics begin on Feb. 4, the opening ceremony, and President Putin expects to be there,” Sherman remarked, “I think that probably [Chinese] President Xi Jinping would not be ecstatic if Putin chose that moment to invade Ukraine, so that may affect his timing and his thinking.”
Unless, of course, Putin’s plan is to topple the West. In that case, Xi may consider being a bit more amenable.
One thing is for sure: Russia certainly isn’t in the mood for being amenable.
“If we do not receive a constructive answer from the West on our security demands, Moscow will take appropriate measures,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declared ominously.
“Appropriate measures” from a potpourri of different options, all of which are intended to destabilize global security.
Great. What a wonderful time to have a spineless administration.
The ball is clearly in Biden’s court … and what a distressingly unintimidating court it is.
Author: Ofelia Thornton
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