So 1) they were blackmailed, 2) if true, he told everyone that Ukraine and China are tied to one another, and 3) how long was the attack supposedly delayed - a few days, weeks, months, years, forever, . . ., or just until the next "payment" is due? (They'll probably attack sometime, anyway.)

Blackmailers don't give up as long as the blackmailed believe the blackmailers have power over them.