World At War: After the attack on the bridge connecting Crimea in the war between Russia and Ukraine that has been going on for more than seven months, an official of the Russian Security Council has surprised by giving a statement. He has said that if Ukraine becomes a part of the US-led NATO military alliance, then this development will definitely lead to the Third World War. It is natural for fear to increase across the world after Russia’s open warning. Venediktov, who is deputy to Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of the Security Council and a powerful ally of Putin, said he thought Ukraine’s application was disinformation because the West understood the consequences of Ukrainian membership of NATO. NATO members themselves understand the suicidal nature of such a move, he said. Venediktov said we must remember that a nuclear conflict would affect the entire world – not just Russia and the collective West, but every country on the planet. The consequences will be disastrous for all mankind. Meanwhile, Russia has changed its strategy and has launched heavy bombing attacks on Ukraine. On the other hand, Ukraine has also launched several counterattacks on Russia.
Just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin formally announced the annexation of up to 18% of Ukraine on September 30, Ukraine’s President Zelensky spoke on fast-track NATO membership. However, Ukraine remains a long way from achieving full NATO membership, as all 30 members of the alliance would have to give their consent. TASS quoted Alexander Venediktov, deputy secretary of Russia’s Security Council, as saying Kiev is well aware that such a move would mean guaranteeing a third world war.
On September 21, Putin warned the West that he was not bluffing when he said he would be prepared to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia. At the same time, US President Joe Biden has said that the world is facing the biggest risk of nuclear attack since the Cuban missile crisis of 1962. NATO is to hold an annual nuclear preparedness exercise called ‘Steadfast Noon’ next week. Russia and America are by far the largest nuclear powers. Both control about 90% of the world’s nuclear weapons. President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly spoken out against the US promoting NATO’s eastward expansion, particularly to former Soviet republics such as Ukraine and Georgia, which Russia regards as part of its sphere of influence.
