Ukraine’s PM warns defeat to Russia will lead to World War 3

Ukraine’s prime minister has warned that a Russian victory in his nation could lead to yet more conflict and bring about World War III as he implored US Congress to approve a military aid package for Kyiv worth more than $60 billion. Denys Shmyhal (pictured) said US military aid was essential to Kyiv’s efforts to repel Russian forces and that further delays could have catastrophic consequences.

‘We need this money yesterday, not tomorrow, not today. If Ukraine will fall, the global system of security will be destroyed. There will be many conflicts, many such kinds of wars, and at the end of the day, it could lead to the Third World War.’

The Prime Minister’s comments echo those of President Volodymyr Zelensky who has long urged the US and Europe to provide more military support to Ukraine. Ukrainian officials say Vladimir Putin and the Russian armed forces would be emboldened by victory in Ukraine and could threaten other countries – though the Kremlin has dismissed such claims as ‘utter nonsense’, casting its ‘special military operation’ across the border as a response to NATO expansionism.

Shmyhal’s stark warning came as the US House of Representatives finally announced a vote on a massive military aid package that includes about $61 billion in long-delayed support for Kyiv. The package also includes some $26.38 billion in military aid for Israel, some of which will cover the cost of US military operations responding to recent attacks, with a further $9.1 billion designated for humanitarian needs.

In Washington, Biden applauded the planned vote in Congress – now scheduled for Saturday after months of political wrangling – and called on American lawmakers to pass it. ‘I will sign this into law immediately to send a message to the world: ”We stand with our friends, and we won’t let Iran or Russia succeed”,’ he said in a White House statement.

The three bills are similar to a $95 billion foreign assistance package the Senate passed in February with strong 70% bipartisan support. But Republican Speaker Mike Johnson declined to move ahead until this week amid objections from hard-right lawmakers – some of whom threatened to try to oust him as speaker.

Aid to Ukraine is strongly opposed by many of the most conservative lawmakers – especially those allied with former President Donald Trump, who has been a Ukraine aid skeptic and hopes to win back the White House in November. There are also some objections on the left, amid concern about sending money to Israel as it strikes back against the October 7 attack by Hamas militants and calls for tighter controls on US weapons and taxpayer dollars, given the devastating toll of Israel’s campaign in Gaza on civilians. But Johnson this week gave an impassioned speech in defence of the bill , despite resistance within his own party.

The Republican speaker said he would not let the threat influence him, saying it was critically important to support Ukraine. ‘I could make a selfish decision… but I’m doing here what I believe to be the right thing,’ he told reporters. While debate continues over Saturday’s vote on aid for Kyiv, residents in the Ukrainian city of Chernihiv mourn the deaths of at least 18 people following one of Russia’s most deadly missile attacks in recent weeks.

Another 78 people were wounded in the devastating strikes yesterday, with dark images showing emergency workers plucking bodies off the streets as pools of blood soaked into the tarmac. Mayor Oleksandr Lomako said more than a dozen buildings had been damaged in the attack, while other officials said dozens of vehicles and medical and educational facilities were also damaged.

Zelensky blamed Russia for the attack, but also said the West should do more to help defend Ukraine’s skies. ‘This would not have happened if Ukraine had received sufficient air defence equipment and if the world’s determination to resist Russian terror had been sufficient,’ he said.

Addressing the European Council by video link later Wednesday, Zelensky said Ukraine should enjoy the same cover from aerial attacks as Israel and pleaded for more air defence systems. ‘Here in Ukraine, in our part of Europe, unfortunately, we don’t have the level of defence that we saw recently in the Middle East,’ Zelensky said, referring to the interception of Iran’s drone and missile barrage on Israel last Saturday. ‘Our Ukrainian sky, the sky of our neighbours deserves the same level of defence.’ The Ukrainian president added: ‘All lives are equally valuable.’

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