MOSCOW: According to Cable News Network, citing US authorities, Chinese officials recommended in early February that senior Russian officials wait until after the Beijing Olympics had ended before initiating an invasion of Ukraine, according to a Western intelligence report.
According to a person familiar with the intelligence, US authorities see the report as plausible in general, but its specifics are subject to interpretation.
Although the request was made around the time Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Beijing for the Olympic opening ceremony, where he saw his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, the source added it is unclear whether the former directly discussed the topic with the latter.
The report's existence was originally disclosed by the New York Times.According to reports, Western intelligence officials were keeping a close eye on Putin's buildup on the Ukrainian border at the time, anticipating that the Russian President would postpone any military action until after the Olympics to avoid angering China.
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