Russian President Putin warns US-led NATO of World War III over Ukraine conflict

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a stern warning to the United States-led NATO, cautioning against the deployment of troops in Ukraine, which he deemed as a potential trigger for “one step shy of a full-scale World War III”.

Addressing the media following his decisive victory in the Russian presidential election, Putin highlighted the presence of soldiers from North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), a military alliance, nations on the ground in Ukraine.

He emphasized Moscow’s awareness of NATO’s intentions to deploy troops in the region.

“We hear both French and English speech there. There is nothing good in this, first of all for them, because they die there and in large numbers,” Putin remarked, as reported by Russian media.

The Russian President underscored the grave consequences of NATO troops entering Ukraine, describing it as a perilous escalation towards a global conflict.

“Anything is possible in the modern world… But everyone knows that this would be one step shy of a full-scale World War III. I don’t think that anyone is interested in that,” Putin asserted.

Responding to earlier remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron, who hinted at the potential deployment of soldiers to support Ukraine, Putin urged France to prioritize peaceful conflict resolution over further escalation.

He called on France to play a constructive role in finding a peaceful solution to the ongoing hostilities in the region.