Retired four-star Army Gen. Jack Keane, a Fox News analyst, said that Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s warning on Feb. 19 that China may provide lethal support to Russia could prompt Beijing to abandon such preparations. Blinken had stated during an interview with ABC News’ Marth Raddatz that China was “considering” providing such support. Keane agreed with the administration’s decision to expose what they had picked up in intelligence circles, and said that China would likely pull back after the public exposure.
Keane noted that China and Russia are strategic partners and that it is as though China wants Russia to succeed in their battle with Ukraine. He pointed out that China has not condemned the invasion, has not spoken out against any war crimes, and has been buying as much Russian oil as possible and helping them with sanctions.
The U.S. warned on Feb. 18 that providing military support, such as weapons and ammunition, to Russia would be crossing a “red line.” Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield reiterated this warning on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Feb. 19.
President Joe Biden made an unannounced visit to Kyiv, Ukraine, on Jan. 20 to show support ahead of the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion. He met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and pledged an additional $500 million in aid to Ukraine, vowing that the United States would continue to support Ukraine in the conflict.