Russia has issued a grim warning to the rest of the world: World War III is all but guaranteed if Ukraine’s Western allies continue to meddle in their ongoing conflict. Specifically, a top Kremlin official threatened worldwide destruction should NATO approve Ukraine’s request to join the organization.
“Kyiv is well aware that such a step would mean a guaranteed escalation to a World War III,” said Alexander Venediktov, the deputy secretary of Russia’s Security Council. (Related: Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko warns World War III is about to begin.)
Venediktov claimed that the West is always making threats of a possible nuclear war.
“Russian officials have never voiced a threat to use any weapons of mass destruction. Meanwhile, in Europe, some politicians openly call for such actions, even a number of politicians in the EU [European Union] do not conceal and do not rule out the possibility of using weapons of mass destruction against Russia,” Venediktov said.
The warning came a day after a senior NATO official announced that a Russian nuclear strike would undoubtedly cause a “physical response” from Ukraine’s allies. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the United States is “committed to defending every inch of NATO’s territory.”
NATO started its annual exercise to test nuclear deterrence capabilities in Europe on Monday, Oct. 17, with the aid of 14 of its 30 member countries. The routine exercise, this year named “Steadfast Noon,” will run until October 30.
Meanwhile, Venediktov criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying that his “actions and words” are being “dictated” by other people.
“It would be good for the West to realize that their protégé can take on so much that Washington and Brussels will have to think about how to deal with the consequences,” Venediktov said. “We must remember: A nuclear conflict will affect absolutely the whole world – not only Russia and the collective West, but any country on this planet. Its consequences will be catastrophic for all mankind.”
Russian missiles hit more than 40 Ukrainian cities and towns last October 13, causing massive destruction.
The southern port city of Mykolaiv was bombarded, while missiles also hit about 30 multi-story buildings and houses in the city of Nikopol in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Thousands were left without power after gas pipelines and power lines were struck.
Putin blamed the escalation on Ukrainian “terrorist” act, referring to the bombing of Russia’s bridge to Crimea last Oct. 10.
The speaker of Russia’s State Duma offered the same excuse. “Nowhere in the world does anyone negotiate with terrorists. If the terrorist attacks by the Kyiv regime continue, the response will be even tougher,” Vyacheslav Volodin said on his Telegram channel.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden cautioned that the world is facing the biggest risk of nuclear Armageddon since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.
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