Moscow: Russia on Thursday issued a chilling warning to the world — if Ukraine gets an entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a third World War is inevitable.
Ukraine, under siege from Russia since February 24, recently applied for a fast-track NATO membership.
Calling it a ‘propaganda move,’ Russian security council deputy secretary Alexander Venediktov said that Kyiv, as well as NATO members, are well aware that such a ‘suicidal’ step would mean a ‘guaranteed escalation to World War III’, TASS news agency reported.
“Apparently, that’s what they are counting on — to create informational noise and draw attention to themselves once again,” Venediktov said.
He added that Russia believes that the West is a ‘direct party’ to the conflict by helping Ukraine.
Reiterating Russia’s stand, Venediktov said: “Ukraine’s accession to NATO or some other alliances formed under the auspices of the United States is unacceptable for us.”
Last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a bid for fast-track NATO membership soon after his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin announced the annexation of four regions of war-hit Ukraine.
In the last few days, there has been an escalation in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with Putin’s forces striking Ukraine’s capital Kyiv and other cities hard in retaliation to a bombing of an important bridge connecting Crimea.
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