If Ukraine joins U.S.-led NATO, the Ukraine war would develop into World War Three, a Russian Security Council official said Thursday. Just hours after Vladimir Putin annexed up to 18% of Ukraine on Sept. 30, President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a fast-track NATO proposal.
Ukraine can’t join NATO until all 30 members agree.
“Kyiv knows that such an act would assure World War Three,” TASS cited Alexander Venediktov as saying. Venediktov, deputy to Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, a Putin supporter, said Ukraine’s appeal was propaganda since the West recognized the repercussions.
“NATO members know this is suicidal,” he added.
Putin has criticized the U.S. for driving NATO’s eastward expansion, notably its courtship of ex-Soviet countries like Ukraine and Georgia, which Russia considers part of its sphere of influence.
Putin told the West on Sept. 21 that he wasn’t kidding when he vowed he’d use nuclear weapons to defend Russia against “nuclear blackmail” from Western nations.
Joe Biden says the world faces the greatest risk of nuclear Armageddon since 1962. NATO will hold “Steadfast Noon” next week. Russia and the U.S. own 90% of the world’s nuclear weapons.
Venediktov warned that nuclear war would have terrible effects on the planet.
“We must remember: a nuclear confrontation will touch completely the whole world,” Venediktov stated.
