As tensions rise amid intensifying attacks from both sides of the European conflict, a former leader of Ukraine's military has declared that World War III has already begun.
“I believe that in 2024 you can absolutely believe that World War III has begun,” said Valery Zarzhiny, who served as Ukraine's top commander until he was fired by President Zelenskiy earlier this year.
Zarzhini said this before the UP100 awards ceremony at Ukraineska Pravda on Friday. said His homeland is already embroiled in international conflict, pointing to Russia's use of Iranian drones, North Korean missiles and Chinese artillery shells.
“What we have been waiting for for a long time has already begun. But I want to say that God himself has given not only Ukraine, but all over the world, a chance to give time to make the right conclusions now. It means that you are giving me something.”
Mr. Zarzhini also appears to be lobbying for the deployment of Western weapons, saying: “We can still stop here, inside Ukrainian territory. But for some reason our partners do not want to understand this. .
“Ukraine already has too many enemies. Ukraine will survive with technology, but I don't know if it can win this battle on its own. So I think the world war has begun, welcome, it has begun. ”
The comments by the former Ukrainian military commander, who currently serves as ambassador to the United Kingdom, come in the wake of a war in Ukraine sparked by reports that lame-duck US President Joe Biden had authorized the use of long-range ATACMS missiles against Kiev. The announcement came after an intense week. It would target mainland Russia, but he had previously refused to support it, fearing it would provoke a potentially catastrophic global response from the world's largest nuclear-armed state.
Biden's move was quickly followed by similar approval from London, which appeared to approve the use of the British-made Storm Shadow long-range missile, which reportedly struck targets in Russia's Kursk region on Wednesday. There is.
In response, President Vladimir Putin announced an update to Russia's nuclear doctrine, making “any attack” on Russia by a third nuclear state, even if non-nuclear in nature, justifiable nuclear retaliation by the Kremlin. He said it would become a reality.
On Friday, Russia's ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, said Britain was now “directly involved” in the Ukraine war, following reports of the Storm Shadow attack in Kursk.
When asked whether Britain was officially at war with Russia, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer replied: said: “No, we are not at war, but Ukraine is certainly at war, because Ukraine has been invaded by Russia, and that war has been going on for over 1,000 days now.
“This is 1,000 days of aggression from Russia, 1,000 days of sacrifice to Ukraine, and that is why we have consistently said that we support Ukraine. I can't let you win.”
