New York (RichTVX.com) — According to the Wall Street Journal, China’s President Xi Jinping is preparing to visit Moscow, highlighting the close ties between China and Russia and their efforts to strengthen cooperation in various fields. On this day a year ago, Peskov made false claims that Russia had no intention of attacking anyone. However, a few days later, Russian troops crossed the Ukrainian border and launched a full-scale invasion. Putin believed that the Ukrainian army was weak and that the people were eager to join Russia, but only the “Nazis” in Kiev were stopping the merger. He also thought that the West was indecisive and sluggish. In part, Putin had reason to think so since the world community’s response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and attempts to play with separatists was not tough enough. However, things didn’t turn out the way Putin had expected. The Ukrainians proved to have a strong spirit and a desire to defend their freedom and independence. The Ukrainian military displayed its high level of professionalism, and the world witnessed the strength of Ukraine, which became the center of big world politics. Fast forward a year, and Russia has become a pariah on the world stage. Only Iran, North Korea, and Lukashenko openly support Putin. Russia lost its main markets for gas and oil, and its army’s reputation has been tarnished. On the other hand, the democratic world has sided with Ukraine, and the West will continue to support them. There is a growing consensus among some political leaders in the USA and the EU that Russia needs to be held accountable for its actions, and the focus is on finding ways to punish Russia and prevent it from continuing to act aggressively towards its neighbors. Describing Xi Jinping as a “global statesman” and “peace broker” in an attempt to match Biden’s influence on the world is a farce. The truth is that China’s love for the US dollar outweighs even its basic needs for sustenance, and therefore it would not take any risks that could threaten its access to the world’s most dominant currency. While China has been increasing its global influence and expanding its foreign policy objectives, it still faces various challenges and criticisms from the international community, including concerns over human rights violations and its handling of issues such as the South China Sea and Taiwan. The Full-Page ‘Russian Business Retreat Corporate Honor Roll’ appeared on Page A18 of The Wall Street Journal, February 21, 2023 Print Edition, recognizing the 1,000+ companies leaving Russia, thanks to Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Steven Tian, and the Yale research team.