Ex-Russian President Warns of Potential World War III Amid Escalating Ukraine Tensions
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev recently warned of the potential for World War III, amidst escalating tensions between the White House and the Kremlin over the ongoing war in Ukraine. Medvedev, now a significant security official, reacted to President Trump’s comments criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin for continuing aggressive strikes on Ukraine. Trump claimed that, without his influence, Russia would have faced dire consequences, stating, “He’s playing with fire!”
Medvedev’s response came swiftly via social media, where he remarked that the only truly disastrous outcome would be World War III, hoping that Trump would recognize this reality.
In response, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, labeled Medvedev’s statement as “reckless.” He emphasized that Russia’s rhetoric was playing into fears of a global conflict and was inappropriate for a nation of Russia’s stature. Putin has not directly spoken of a world war but has made references to the potential use of nuclear weapons since his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In a notable speech last year, he declared that Russia would not yield to threats from Ukraine’s Western allies and assured that Russia’s nuclear forces were always ready for combat.
While Trump has aimed to negotiate a ceasefire, his approach has shifted, causing frustration toward Putin, whom he has also described as “crazy.” The situation remains complicated, as the Kremlin continues to develop a memorandum outlining its demands for negotiations with Ukraine. As the war persists, Ukrainian forces are enduring attacks, with recent missile strikes reported to have resulted in casualties.
Amidst these developments, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to meet with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to discuss defense strategies against Russian threats. Merz’s decision to lift weapon restrictions for Ukraine was criticized by the Kremlin as counterproductive to peace efforts.