Do you know what you get when you have a POTATUS vice POTUS sitting in the White House and occupying the chair normally held by the leader of the Free World?

Well, you get excruciating moments like this here at home.

In 20 years, we're going to look back at this moment in history and just shake our heads at how ridiculous it was and gape in awe at how many people tried to pretend it was normal https://t.co/Gmb4npaBbp

— PoliMath (@politicalmath) March 22, 2023

In the places of the world where evil dwells and our vigilance should be always at its maximum, you get scenes like this.

Xi Jinping: “Change is coming that hasn’t happened in 100 years and we are driving this change together”

Putin: “I agree”pic.twitter.com/9myzS2BsXA

— Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) March 22, 2023

The last two people on earth who anyone needs to see being buddy-buddy…are. That should be upsetting to the soberest strategic thinker.

Biden had other things to do and much more important people to meet.

Can't help but notice this is what Biden was doing today while Putin and Xi consummated their civilization-shifting alliance https://t.co/OjmZRMl6FT

— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) March 22, 2023

Chairman Xi, whose face naturally relaxes into that deceptive beneficent expression, has been on something of a world peacemaking tour lately. Just about a week ago, I wrote a post about the rollout of his “Global Civilization Initiative,” including how Xi had stolen a march on the U.S. by finessing a surprise kiss-and-make-up session in the long-time feud between the Saudis and Iranians.

When the chairman arrived in Moscow, as he’d promised, he came bearing goodwill and economic gifts. Not to mention throwing beleaguered Vladimir Putin a lifeline, with both a chance to put on a public show for his countrymen that he was leading and that Russia was still a power to be courted, not an international outcast to be reviled.

…Messrs. Putin and Xi enjoy a personal bond, described by some analysts as a “strategic bromance,” that is unusual in the world of global diplomacy. The relationship has been under a spotlight since the start of the Ukraine war—scrutiny that intensified after the International Criminal Court accused Mr. Putin of war crimes on Friday, days before Mr. Xi was scheduled to visit Moscow.

Mr. Xi was undeterred by the court’s allegations that Mr. Putin was complicit in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children from Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, or that his host now faces the possibility of arrest in any of the court’s 123 member states.

A healthy cash influx Putin desperately needs to keep his economy afloat and the unending war in Ukraine droning on came with the smiling leader of the CCCP, wrapped in assurances of eternal friendship.

…Putin touted plans for a gas pipeline from Siberia to China ahead of the meeting, saying the agreement was all-but finalized.

“We were just discussing a good project, the new Power of Siberia 2 pipeline via Mongolia. Practically all the parameters of that agreement have been finalized,” Putin told Xi at the beginning of the meeting, according to the Financial Times.

…Beijing has grown increasingly friendly with Moscow over the past year as Putin’s invasion of Ukraine left the country largely ostracized on the world stage.

“Dear friends” they called each other and with as much time as they’ve spent in each other’s company, you would have to figure Xi and Putin really do know each other well.

…The pair have continued to be effusive in public about their ties. After arriving in the Russian capital, Mr. Xi reminisced with Mr. Putin about visiting Moscow on his first trip abroad in 2013.

“You reminded me of that, and to this day these pictures are well preserved in my heart,” Mr. Xi told Mr. Putin.

…The two have met 40 times since Mr. Xi became Communist Party leader in 2012, discussing philosophy and history in addition to politics. They like to give each other birthday gifts, such as when Mr. Xi presented a cake to Mr. Putin for his 61st birthday, which they marked with sausages and vodka, during a summit in Bali in 2013.

Mr. Putin returned the favor in 2019, presenting Mr. Xi with a birthday cake that said “good fortune double six” in Chinese to mark his 66th birthday during a summit in Tajikistan.

That kind of puts Biden’s sad little “Xi and me” stories in the shade, doesn’t it?

The details of the economic agreement they signed haven’t been released, but it will no doubt cause some serious heartburn. It’s a multi-year, multi-lateral understanding, and another attack on the supremacy of the dollar. These two countries mean business crippling us and the way we’re going, we’re doing most of the work for them ourselves.

…Prominent on the list was increasing the use of “local” currency, Chinese state media said. The Kremlin was more explicit in stating that the yuan and ruble already account for two-thirds of trade deal payments between the two countries.

Other areas the agreement covered included: expanding bilateral trade, cooperating in energy and food security and developing rail and other cross-border logistics infrastructure.

China is already Russia’s largest trading partner. Official statements from both sides disclosed few details on numbers or timeline of implementation, while noting the plan focused on the years leading up to 2030.

As if that wasn’t enough of a warning flag, a tiny little mention from the Russian side of the release should have the White House sitting straight up in their chairs, if only someone was awake.

…In another detail the Chinese side didn’t mention, the Russian statement said that, “When it comes to investment, our countries have compiled a package of 80 important and promising bilateral projects in various fields worth around $165 billion.”

“We support using Chinese yuan in transactions between the Russian Federation and its partners in Asia, Africa and Latin America,” the Kremlin release said.

We are losing all our spheres of influence to the yuan and cheap Chinese – with Russian assistance – building projects and aid.

Not only was the visit all moonlight, money, and roses, but the two of them also backed each other up on matters pertaining tothe Ukrainian conflict as well. While Xi was careful to say China was “impartial,” a primary purpose of his visit was, again, to burnish the image of peace-maker he’s striving to wrap himself in. Putin made it clear he was on board with Xi’s efforts when it came to discussing a Ukrainian peace deal, brokered by the Chinese.

…China under Xi has promoted itself as a neutral peacemaker, proposing a plan for Ukraine last month which the West largely dismissed as vague at best, and at worst a ploy to buy time for Putin to regroup his forces.

“A ceasefire right now, freezing the lines where they are, basically gives him the time and space he needs to try to re-equip, to re-man, to make up for that resource expenditure,” White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said.

Putin praised Xi for the plan, and blamed Kyiv and the West for rejecting it. Kyiv, for its part, has cautiously welcomed the Chinese proposal while urging Beijing to consider Ukraine’s own peace plan. Zelenskiy has called on Xi to speak to him.

(I did like Zelensky’s “Yo, come talk to me” answer.)

Putin did have to sword rattle about the British sending depleted uranium shells with their tanks during the press conference while discussing the peace plan, though.

It looks like depleted Uranium shells are indeed a red line and he spoke of it during the meeting with Xi Jinping…

Putin: "UK announced not only the supply of tanks to Ukraine, but also depleted uranium shells. But I would like to note that if all this happens, Russia will… pic.twitter.com/LEt1sFA9FP

— GraphicW (@GraphicW5) March 21, 2023

That’s always the edge this thing balances on, isn’t it? The stakes are incredibly high.

Q: "Do you think that Putin and Xi fear President Biden?"

Top Biden spokesman John Kirby: "You'd have to ask them"

Q: "Should they?"

Kirby: ……. pic.twitter.com/YI1q4sTdNL

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) March 20, 2023

High stakes, POTATUS.

Not ribeyes.