Vladimir Putin has warned that if North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) decided to clash with Russia, it would end in a global catastrophe.
The Russian leader’s remarks come more than seven months after he ordered the “special military operation” on Ukraine in late February.
The threat also comes as Ukraine formerly makes its bid to join NATO, but Western leaders, including President Joe Biden, have shot down the possibility of admission, citing corruption concerns.
If Ukraine joins NATO, It could result in drawing the organization’s response to the Russia-Ukraine war, which Russian officials have said would end in “World War III.”
While addressing the speculations, Putin said:
“In any case, putting troops into direct contact, direct conflict, with the Russian army is a very dangerous step, which might lead to a global catastrophe. I hope that those who speak about it have enough good sense not to take that step.”
Ukraine becoming a member of NATO would require its fellow members to defend it against Russia—essentially triggering a war between the alliance and Russia that would have wide-reaching consequences.
NATO membership requires the unanimous approval of all 30 member nations, a challenging feat for Ukraine to overcome.
The United States has recently sent High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), which are credited with allowing Ukraine to launch its counteroffensives that saw the country take back thousands of square miles of Russia-occupied territory.
The Atlantic organization and the larger international countries continue to face rising concerns that Russia could resort to using nuclear weapons if they are facing defeat in Ukraine.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has began testing of nuclear capabilities far away from Russia and Ukraine. In a statement about Russia’s nuclear threats, Daniel Högsta, campaigns coordinator for the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons said:
“Following Russia’s egregious nuclear threats in the context of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, these exercises by NATO do nothing to calm fears about the potential use of nuclear weapons.”