Putin's stark World War III warning amidst NATO tensions

Vladimir Putin warned on Monday that a direct conflict between Russia and the US-led NATO military alliance would mean "standing on the brink of World War III".

In February, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the potential deployment of ground forces in Ukraine in the future could not be ruled out. This statement met with various reactions. Many Western countries are distancing themselves from this idea.

Following the announcement of Vladimir Putin's victory in the Russian presidential elections, Reuters reporters asked him whether there was a potential risk or possibility of conflict between Russia and NATO. The leader responded directly: "In today's world everything is possible".

It is clear to everyone that this would be one step away from the outbreak of a full-scale World War III, he stated, adding that, in his opinion, NATO forces were already present in Ukraine. However, he also stated that almost no one would want such a scenario.

Putin stated that Russia has learned to speak both English and French on the battlefield. - He summed up that there is nothing good in this, primarily for them, because they die there en masse.

- I do not exclude that, given the tragic events taking place today, we may be forced at some point, when we deem it appropriate, to create a certain "sanitary zone" in the territories of today's Kyiv regime – said Putin, referring to the democratically elected authorities of Ukraine. He refused to provide further details but stated that such a zone could be large enough to prevent the entry of foreign weapons into Russian territory.

According to the first poll after the polling stations closed in Russia, conducted by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center, 87.97% of voters were to vote for the current leader.

President Zelensky, commenting on the exit poll results, delivered an evening speech in which he stated that "the Russian dictator simulates another election" and accused Putin of having "enough power to rule forever". He also added: "There is and can be no legitimacy in simulating elections. This person should stand trial in The Hague. This is what we need to ensure."

The United States also expressed doubts about the exit poll results. The White House announced that the elections in Russia "were obviously not free or fair".

Source: Reuters, PAP