Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called Russia "a vassal state of the Chinese Communist Party" and said Xi Jinping is the happiest leader in the world because of the war in Europe.
Pompeo made the remarks in an interview with Natalia Moseychuk recorded on the eve of the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, "Hvylya" reports.
"Today Russia is a vassal state of the Chinese Communist Party. A subsidiary, an accomplice in crime - call it whatever you want," Pompeo said. He added that North Korean soldiers are fighting in Europe and called it part of Beijing's strategy.
According to Pompeo, the war in Ukraine is Beijing's attempt to distract the West from what matters most: China's pursuit of global hegemony. "As a result of this war in Europe, the happiest leader in the world is Xi Jinping," he said.
Pompeo said Russia, China, Iran, and even Venezuela are "fully aligned" in their efforts against the West. He expressed hope, however, that thanks to the Trump administration's work, Venezuela would soon distance itself from this alliance.
Pompeo also said European nations relied on Russian energy for far too long. "Those who did business with the Russians - that's the Germans. It all started with the Nord Stream pipeline," Pompeo said, adding that dependence on Putin or Xi Jinping will inevitably "end badly."
Meanwhile, sanctions against Russia have already become the fault line splitting the Western alliance.
Also read the interview with McMaster and Sullivan on Trump's National Security Strategy and the geopolitics of 2026.