Putin threatens Nato with World War 3

[Kokavkrystallos]

Vladimir Putin has warned against any move that would risk direct conflict with Russia, saying it would be “one step away from World War 3”.

Asked about the dangers of a wide-scale Nato-Russia conflict, Putin said: “Everything is possible in the modern world.”

It is the latest example of the Russian president dangling the threat of a larger, or even nuclear, conflict in Europe as he attempts to pressure Ukraine’s Western allies against an escalation of their involvement in his war.

It comes as United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres said the risk of nuclear war was the highest it has been in decades.

“Geopolitical tensions and mistrust have escalated the risk of nuclear warfare to its highest point in decades,” he said during a UN security Council meeting.

He said the Doomsday Clock – the symbol for humanity’s proximity to self-destruction - “is ticking loudly enough for all to hear”.

Referencing the Oscar-winning film Oppenheimer, he added: “Humanity cannot survive a sequel.”

Putin threatens Nato with World War 3 - Ukraine Russia war latest

Vladimir Putin has made at least 11 threats of nuclear war against the West since he launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022

www.independent.co.uk

 

[ThatRobGuy]

It sounds like the kind of grandstanding that autocrats in other non-westernized countries resort to in order to convey a "strong man" persona to people they lord over.

The Kim dynasty of N. Korea has been making the same kinds of threats for 3 decades, none of them coming to fruition.

Now, that's not to suggest that Russia is quite as "toothless" (in terms of capability to deliver on threats) as N. Korea... but on the spectrum of "just blowing hot air" <-> "fully capable to deliver on all threats", Russia/Putin is certainly closer to the former.

A UN secretary saying "the risk of nuclear war is higher than it's been in decades" is one of those things that sounds bad on the surface when clipped into a sound byte, but is somewhat meaningless when put into a fuller context of the fact that the risk of nuclear war has been near 0 for a few decades. (after all, 2% is higher than 0.000001%)

If I opted to not drive my car for 3 months, and today, decided drive my car to the grocery store "my risk of dying in a car accident is higher than it's ever been in the last 3 months" would technically be a true statement...and would sound a lot more alarming if presented as a sound byte while not considering the contextual backdrop.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Vladimir Putin has warned against any move that would risk direct conflict with Russia, saying it would be “one step away from World War 3”.

Asked about the dangers of a wide-scale Nato-Russia conflict, Putin said: “Everything is possible in the modern world.”

It is the latest example of the Russian president dangling the threat of a larger, or even nuclear, conflict in Europe as he attempts to pressure Ukraine’s Western allies against an escalation of their involvement in his war.

It comes as United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres said the risk of nuclear war was the highest it has been in decades.

“Geopolitical tensions and mistrust have escalated the risk of nuclear warfare to its highest point in decades,” he said during a UN security Council meeting.

He said the Doomsday Clock – the symbol for humanity’s proximity to self-destruction - “is ticking loudly enough for all to hear”.

Referencing the Oscar-winning film Oppenheimer, he added: “Humanity cannot survive a sequel.”

Putin threatens Nato with World War 3 - Ukraine Russia war latest

Vladimir Putin has made at least 11 threats of nuclear war against the West since he launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022

www.independent.co.uk

All it takes is one step. And it's a BIG one he won't take. Blessings.

 

[Trogdor the Burninator]

Putin threatening nuclear war again. Must be a day ending in “y”.

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

As a means of deterring direct western interference I don't see why he wouldn't use nukes as a threat. Ultimately if the west gets the war with Russia it wants and let's say it forces Russia into a corner it will have no other choice but to use them.

 

[Gene2memE]

Putin could very easily defuse tensions with NATO and the West.
By leaving Ukraine and returning the territory Russia stole in 2014.

 

[NxNW]

It's too bad Trump's not in office so he could surrender to Putin.

 

[stevil]

As a means of deterring direct western interference I don't see why he wouldn't use nukes as a threat. Ultimately if the west gets the war with Russia it wants and let's say it forces Russia into a corner it will have no other choice but to use them.

Of course, it's all "the West's" fault, not innocent little Putin.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

As a means of deterring direct western interference I don't see why he wouldn't use nukes as a threat. Ultimately if the west gets the war with Russia it wants and let's say it forces Russia into a corner it will have no other choice but to use them.

It seems to me Russia (or at least Putin) is the one who wants war with the West and is trying his hardest to get it.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

Of course, it's all "the West's" fault, not innocent little Putin.

I like this narrative because it suggests Russia has no agency and can only react to the West.

It's tacitly admitting we own them and it's somehow the best Russia supporters can muster up. How sad.

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

It seems to me Russia (or at least Putin) is the one who wants war with the West and is trying his hardest to get it.

Why would he want that? Do you think he thinks he can beat the entirety of a NATO that would mobilize against him?

Do you think he is insane instead of a rational actor?

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

Of course, it's all "the West's" fault, not innocent little Putin.

In part yes. But this simply how powers operate. Neither side is faultless and as interests contradict each other and diplomacy fails, force must settle issues. Such is the nature of man.

 

[wing2000]

Why would he want that? Do you think he thinks he can beat the entirety of a NATO that would mobilize against him?

Do you think he is insane instead of a rational actor?

He knows Russia would lose badly against a unified NATO - especially after his military's weakness was exposed by failing to take Ukraine. He's holding out for the day when the US pulls out of NATO (as the isolationists in our country are bent on doing) At that point, the Baltics and maybe Finland will be next.....

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

He knows Russia would lose badly against a unified NATO - especially after his military's weakness was exposed by failing to take Ukraine. He's holding out for the day when the US pulls out of NATO (as the isolationists in our country are bent on doing) At that point, the Baltics and maybe Finland will be next.....

So then the previous user was wrong about him wanting a war with NATO?

Or was he right? Because an invasion of the baltics would involve NATO and Putin knows he will lose. Yet he will do it anyway?

 

[Hans Blaster]

The Kim dynasty of N. Korea has been making the same kinds of threats for 3 decades, none of them coming to fruition.

Now, that's not to suggest that Russia is quite as "toothless" (in terms of capability to deliver on threats) as N. Korea... but on the spectrum of "just blowing hot air" <-> "fully capable to deliver on all threats", Russia/Putin is certainly closer to the former.

Kim's threats are hollow, but N. Korea isn't toothless. Even without a nuclear strike, the NK artillery would do serious damage to Seoul (think Bakhmut or Mariupol or Grozny). The threat is rather empty from Kim because he knows that the S. Korean/US counterstrike (even non-nuclear) would be brutal and regime decapitation strikes would be attempted. He doesn't really want full scale war with S. Korea and neither does Putin really want full scale war with NATO.

 

[wing2000]

So then the previous user was wrong about him wanting a war with NATO?

Or was he right? Because an invasion of the baltics would involve NATO and Putin knows he will lose. Yet he will do it anyway?

So maybe you should read what I wrote....

 

[Ceallaigh]

He's been making this threat ever since invading Ukrane. Because he knows most of the world wants to take him out.

 

[Handmaid for Jesus]

Do you think he is insane instead of a rational actor?

YES!

 

[GoldenBoy89]

Why would he want that? Do you think he thinks he can beat the entirety of a NATO that would mobilize against him?

No, I think he just wants the appearance of taking on the West, for fans like yourself to think he’s actually doing something other than pointlessly laying waste to a neighboring country.

Do you think he is insane instead of a rational actor?

That remains to be seen.

 

[Larniavc]

As a means of deterring direct western interference I don't see why he wouldn't use nukes as a threat. Ultimately if the west gets the war with Russia it wants and let's say it forces Russia into a corner it will have no other choice but to use them.

How many countries have attacked Russia vs how many countries has Russia attacked?

Russia is always the aggressor.