Ukraine’s ex-military commander-in-chief who was sacked by Volodymyr Zelensky has made an unflinching claim about World War III – that it has already started.
Valery Zaluzhny said that the direct involvement of Russia’s allies – North Korea, Iran and China – means that the conflict is now on a global scale.
‘I believe that in 2024 we can absolutely believe that the Third World War has begun,’ said Zaluzhny, who is now Ukraine’s envoy to Britain.
‘Because in 2024, Ukraine is no longer facing Russia. Soldiers from North Korea are standing in front of Ukraine. Let’s be honest.
‘Already in Ukraine, the Iranian “Shahedis” are killing civilians absolutely openly, without any shame.
‘Missiles of North Korean production are already flying into Ukraine, and they openly declare this.
‘Chinese projectiles are blown up in Ukraine, Chinese parts are used in Russian missiles.’
Earlier today, Sir Keir Starmer was asked ‘are we at war’ as he appeared on BBC Radio Bristol on Friday.
The prime minister said: ‘No, we are not at war, but Ukraine certainly is, because Ukraine has been invaded by Russia, and that war has now been going on for just over 1,000 days.
‘That’s 1,000 days of aggression from Russia and 1,000 days of sacrifice for Ukraine, and that is why we have said consistently that we stand by Ukraine. We cannot allow Putin to win this war.’
His assurances come after the Russian ambassador to the UK declared that Britain is now ‘directly involved’ in the war after Ukraine deployed Storm Shadows on Russian territory.
In the last nearly three years, experts have been openly warning that Putin’s full-scale invasion is still the ‘primary pathway’ to a global future conflict.
Even using historical precedents, defining whether a world war has begun is complex.
More Trending
For one, there is no set definition for what makes a world war, even if some politicians like Zaluzhny have warned that one has already started.
World Wars I and II spanned multiple continents, while Russia’s invasion is a war between two countries.
Key criteria include the involvement of a number of major powers across continents; coalitions of nations acting in coordination rather than isolated bilateral or regional wars; evidence of mass civilian displacement, deaths, and humanitarian crises in multiple regions.
In the case of the war in Ukraine while its ramifications are vast – disrupting energy markets, food supplies, and global alliances – it is not yet universally seen as a global war.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: Putin makes menacing new threat after Russia warns UK ‘directly involved’ in war
MORE: Brits are paying eye-watering prices for nuclear bunkers – here’s why
MORE: Astonishing moment Putin’s hypersonic missile pierces through the sky during Ukraine onslaught
