authoritarian governments that we currently see in russia and china. >> but there's a how here question, because the other part of that statement, putin and xi said, in part, friendship between the two states has no limits. there are no forbidden areas of cooperation. so, what threat does this tightening relationship pose to the u.s.? i mean, how can it be countered? >> look, i think that in this age of interconnectedness, global networking, global economy, if russia and putin ties hands and we stay firm with our beliefs, they will have -- and this is why the devastating sanctions that will be put on russia would cripple their economy, et cetera, and i think they will feel the problems from their own countries, because of what will take place there. so, the bluster of what they talk, i think that the key is to