Germany may be pulled into WW3 if Russia beats Ukraine, Zelensky warns

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Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Germany risks being drawn into World War Three if Russia defeats Ukraine and takes over the nation’s land. Zelensky, 46, appeared on a German talk show to lobby Berlin into giving his nation’s army long-range Taurus missiles, and praised leader Olaf Scholz for recognizing that Russia was ‘drawing closer.’ ‘My impression is that the chancellor [Scholz] has understood a few things better: that Putin is not just a name, but a threat, and not only for Ukraine,’ Zelensky said.

He added: 'I think the chancellor understands that there is such a risk [of a Russian attack on NATO ]. And that certainly means the Third World War.' The Ukrainian leader said he hoped that Berlin would soon change its tune and begin handing over Taurus cruise missiles, which can travel at least 300 miles, hinting that he knew Scholz was not personally blocking their delivery. 'I’m just disappointed that the people in today’s world tend to be pragmatic and don’t step in right away when there is one challenge or another.'

He added: ‘I think the chancellor understands that there is such a risk [of a Russian attack on NATO ]. And that certainly means the Third World War.’ The Ukrainian leader said he hoped that Berlin would soon change its tune and begin handing over Taurus cruise missiles, which can travel at least 300 miles, hinting that he knew Scholz was not personally blocking their delivery. ‘I’m just disappointed that the people in today’s world tend to be pragmatic and don’t step in right away when there is one challenge or another.’

He said that the argument that Germany needed to keep its own stockpile levels up was bogus, telling the chat show: 'The weapons will hardly help you then [if Russia attacks NATO]. That is another kind of war. These are another kind of people. Russia is totally different.' Zelensky also admitted that he was worried about the US' support for Ukraine if Donald Trump won the next election. While Ukraine has been scared that Trump would force Ukraine to agree to a bad deal with Russia to end the conflict, Zelensky said that he was confident that both Republicans and Democrats understood the gravity of the conflict. 'It’s not likely that US policy depends on a single person,' he said. The US is currently preoccupied with the deaths of three of its soldiers in Jordan, following a drone strike.

He said that the argument that Germany needed to keep its own stockpile levels up was bogus, telling the chat show: ‘The weapons will hardly help you then [if Russia attacks NATO]. That is another kind of war. These are another kind of people. Russia is totally different.’ Zelensky also admitted that he was worried about the US’ support for Ukraine if Donald Trump won the next election. While Ukraine has been scared that Trump would force Ukraine to agree to a bad deal with Russia to end the conflict, Zelensky said that he was confident that both Republicans and Democrats understood the gravity of the conflict. ‘It’s not likely that US policy depends on a single person,’ he said. The US is currently preoccupied with the deaths of three of its soldiers in Jordan, following a drone strike.

Experts have warned that the attack by Iran-backed militants risk further inflaming the on-going crisis in the Middle East . A former CIA director called the weekend strike on the US base a 'dangerous escalation' in tensions that have already engulfed the region following Hamas's October 7 terror attack on southern Israel, and Israel's subsequent assault on Gaza. After he warned that the US 'shall respond' to the strike, analysts say US president Joe Biden must be calculated in his retaliation and strike a balance between pleasing those at home who want to see a show of force, and averting a wider conflict.

Experts have warned that the attack by Iran-backed militants risk further inflaming the on-going crisis in the Middle East . A former CIA director called the weekend strike on the US base a ‘dangerous escalation’ in tensions that have already engulfed the region following Hamas’s October 7 terror attack on southern Israel, and Israel’s subsequent assault on Gaza. After he warned that the US ‘shall respond’ to the strike, analysts say US president Joe Biden must be calculated in his retaliation and strike a balance between pleasing those at home who want to see a show of force, and averting a wider conflict.

If the White House is not strong enough in its response, experts say Iran's proxies will remain undeterred and continue to carry out attacks. Too strong, and Biden risks plunging the Middle East into a deeper conflict. Further escalation, one expert warns, 'would bring the Middle East to the precipice of a regional war', while another said they expect a 'expect a serious escalation around the corner.' But in doing so, Biden also runs the risk of playing into the 'optimal scenario' for Vladimir Putin, whose war in Ukraine would benefit greatly from a wider conflict.

If the White House is not strong enough in its response, experts say Iran’s proxies will remain undeterred and continue to carry out attacks. Too strong, and Biden risks plunging the Middle East into a deeper conflict. Further escalation, one expert warns, ‘would bring the Middle East to the precipice of a regional war’, while another said they expect a ‘expect a serious escalation around the corner.’ But in doing so, Biden also runs the risk of playing into the ‘optimal scenario’ for Vladimir Putin, whose war in Ukraine would benefit greatly from a wider conflict.

Meanwhile, one British MP warned that the escalation in the volatile region also affects the UK, saying that it could become a 'necessity' for Britain to get involved. 'It's important that the British people understand this: This is one example of many of the new era of insecurity that we've entered and that we need to prepare for,' said former Defense Select Committee chairman and soldier Tobias Ellwood. While Zelensky may not be able to rely on the US for much longer, he still has powerful allies in the EU, who have this week made efforts to strongarm Hungary into backing down from its veto of a €50B (£43B)($54B) aid package.

Meanwhile, one British MP warned that the escalation in the volatile region also affects the UK, saying that it could become a ‘necessity’ for Britain to get involved. ‘It’s important that the British people understand this: This is one example of many of the new era of insecurity that we’ve entered and that we need to prepare for,’ said former Defense Select Committee chairman and soldier Tobias Ellwood. While Zelensky may not be able to rely on the US for much longer, he still has powerful allies in the EU, who have this week made efforts to strongarm Hungary into backing down from its veto of a €50B (£43B)($54B) aid package.

The plans, drawn up by EU officials, are reported by the FT to explicitly target Hungary's economic pressure points, destabilize the already-weak forint, Hungary's currency, and force investor confidence to plummet in a bid to attack 'jobs and growth', if the nation refuses to lift its veto against aid to Ukraine. Viktor Orban, Hungary's far-Right leader who has been in high office since 2010 and has close ties with Vladimir Putin, has consistently taken a hard stance against Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The plans, drawn up by EU officials, are reported by the FT to explicitly target Hungary’s economic pressure points, destabilize the already-weak forint, Hungary’s currency, and force investor confidence to plummet in a bid to attack ‘jobs and growth’, if the nation refuses to lift its veto against aid to Ukraine. Viktor Orban, Hungary’s far-Right leader who has been in high office since 2010 and has close ties with Vladimir Putin, has consistently taken a hard stance against Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

On Thursday, he vowed to block the EU from using its budget to provide €50bn (£43bn) in financial aid to Ukraine, during an emergency summit of world leaders. The drafted plans, first revealed on Sunday night, would see EU leaders publicly vow to shut off all EU funding to Budapest if Orban did not back down from his position before an upcoming summit. The plans state that 'in the case of no agreement in the February 1 [summit], other heads of state and government would publicly declare that in the light of the unconstructive behavior of the Hungarian PM... they cannot imagine that' EU funds would be provided to Hungary.

On Thursday, he vowed to block the EU from using its budget to provide €50bn (£43bn) in financial aid to Ukraine, during an emergency summit of world leaders. The drafted plans, first revealed on Sunday night, would see EU leaders publicly vow to shut off all EU funding to Budapest if Orban did not back down from his position before an upcoming summit. The plans state that ‘in the case of no agreement in the February 1 [summit], other heads of state and government would publicly declare that in the light of the unconstructive behavior of the Hungarian PM… they cannot imagine that’ EU funds would be provided to Hungary.

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