The ‘absolutely crazy West’ is risking World War III by supporting Ukraine, former Russian president has claimed.
Dmitry Medvedev, now Russia’s deputy chairman of the Security Council and a Putin ally, said ‘World War III’ was ‘fast approaching’ and Russia’s aggression in Ukraine would ‘continue’.
At today’s NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, the G7 nations came up with a ‘long-term’ security package for Ukraine to help ‘end the war’.
Mr Medvedev said: ‘The totally crazy West has failed to invent anything else. In fact, it is a dead end.
‘World War III is approaching. What does all this mean for us? Everything is clear. Special military operations will continue with the same goal.
Dmitry Medvedev (left), currently Russia’s deputy chairman of the Security Council and a Putin ally, says ‘World War III’ is ‘fast approaching’ and Russia’s aggression in Ukraine ‘will continue’
Mr Medvedev said: ‘The totally crazy West has failed to invent anything else. Actually it is a dead end’. Photo: A Russian Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile
In a statement echoed by the White House, the UK government said: ‘The joint declaration, expected to be signed by all members of the G7, will set out how allies will help Ukraine end and prevent war in the coming years. Any future attack will have to be answered.’
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak added: ‘As Ukraine makes strategic progress in its counteroffensive, and as the decline of Russian forces begins to affect Putin’s front lines, we are strengthening our formal measures to protect Ukraine in the long term.’
But Zelensky dismissed early professions of unity at a NATO summit on Tuesday when he blamed allies for failing to set a firm deadline for his country to join the alliance.
He issued his complaint on Twitter after saying that Ukraine would be ‘represented’ at the summit – amid hints that he would meet with President Joe Biden here, saying the attendance would be about ‘respect’.
But Ukraine also deserves respect. Now, on the way to Vilnius, we get signals that some words other than Ukraine are being discussed.
‘Abusrd’: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued a statement blasting NATO for refusing to commit to a deadline for his country to join. A few days ago, President Biden said Ukraine was ‘not ready’ to join
‘And I want to emphasize that this word is about the invitation to become a NATO member, not about the membership of Ukraine,’ he said.
It is unprecedented and unreasonable when no deadline is set for the invitation or Ukraine’s membership.
‘While at the same time adding vague words about “conditions” for inviting Ukraine,’ Zelensky said.
“This means that negotiations with Russia are leaving a window of opportunity to negotiate Ukraine’s NATO membership,” he said. ‘And for Russia that means an incentive to continue terror.’
Last week, Mr Medvedev claimed the West must stop opposing Russia’s aggression in Ukraine – or face nuclear war, pandemics and famine that could wipe out millions.
He said Putin would not accept any solution short of the total defeat or “destruction” of democratic Ukraine.
Last week, Mr Medvedev claimed the West must stop opposing Russia’s aggression in Ukraine – or face nuclear war, pandemics and famine that could wipe out millions.
He said Putin would not accept any solution short of the total defeat or “destruction” of democratic Ukraine.
“You don’t have to be a visionary to understand that the phase of the conflict will be very long,” said Medvedev, 70, Putin’s deputy head of the Security Council.
‘The conflict will continue for decades. One way to solve this is World War III. But this is obviously bad, because the victors do not guarantee more prosperity at all, as was the case after the previous world wars. Most likely, there will be no winners.
He called on Russia to suspend diplomatic ties with the UK and other countries that sided with Kiev.
‘It would be better to temporarily suspend or at least reduce the level of diplomatic relations with Finland and similar countries (such as Poland, the Baltic states and, of course, the UK).’
Medvedev, 57, is looking to position himself to return to the Kremlin if Putin weakens or becomes too ill to continue in power.
Medvedev was president of Russia from 2008 to 2012 and is also the longest-serving prime minister of the post-communist country.