Moscow’s new WW3 threat to the West: Putin ally warns of global war and ‘tragedy that can affect all of humanity’ if Kyiv is allowed to use US-supplied weapons on Russian territory

The chairman of Russia’s lower house of parliament warned today that Ukraine is “dragging the United States and Europe” into a major global war, and urged Western leaders to act responsibly to avoid a catastrophe.

His comments come as Russian forces continue to seize territory in eastern Ukraine, forcing thousands of people in Kharkiv to flee their homes after Moscow launched another ground invasion of the region.

“The Kiev regime is dragging the United States and European countries into a major war,” said Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of the State Duma, a close ally of Putin and a member of Russia’s Security Council.

He said Ukrainian lawmakers were trying to convince the United States to allow Kiev to use US-supplied weapons to attack Russian territory.

“This path leads to a tragedy that could affect all humanity,” Volodin said. “Western politicians must realize their responsibility and do everything they can to prevent the situation from turning into a global catastrophe.”

President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine caused the worst rift in relations between Russia and the West since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis.

On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in Kiev that Washington “has not encouraged or enabled attacks outside Ukraine, but ultimately Ukraine must make its own decisions about how to fight this war.”

“We have been clear about our own policies, but again, these are decisions that Ukraine has to make, Ukraine will make on its own,” Blinken said, according to a transcript of his remarks provided by the US State Department.

Ukraine says it has the right to attack Russian targets because it is hit by Russian missiles every day.

But the United States has been wary of using its weapons in a direct attack on Russia, the world’s largest nuclear power, because of the greater risks.

Putin and US President Joe Biden have warned that a direct confrontation between Russia and the US-led NATO military alliance could trigger World War III.

Russia has warned that the use of American and Western weapons against targets inside Russia could trigger a new level of confrontation – and Putin has ordered tactical nuclear weapons exercises, partly in response to Western statements.

“Any use of American and European weapons to attack peaceful cities of the Russian Federation will require the use of more powerful weapons to protect the citizens of our country,” Volodin said.

His comments come as colleague Dmitry Medvedev engaged in more saber-rattling – and mocked British Foreign Secretary David Cameron.

Medvedev – who was Russia’s president when David Cameron became prime minister in 2010 – warned the foreign secretary that he was risking nuclear risks because of his promise to Ukraine that they could use British missiles to attack Russia.

He mocked the colleague for wanting to “fight Putin to the bitter end” and labeled him an “idiot” for his comments.

Cameron had previously said Ukraine was free to decide how to use British-supplied weapons.

“In terms of what the Ukrainians are doing, we believe it is their decision on how to use these weapons, they are defending their country, they have been illegally invaded by Putin and they must take those steps,” he said.

This seemed to change the view that Western long-range missiles would be used in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, but not in Russia itself.

‘I remember this guy very well. I worked with him when he became prime minister,” Medvedev said of Cameron.

‘An ordinary, boring British boy. At that time he was joyfully stupid and looked like a young devil enjoying his unexpectedly acquired position.’

Medvedev claimed that Cameron told the Ukrainians ‘you can fire our missiles wherever you want… we, the British, are not afraid of anything, not even a nuclear conflict’.

‘Cool! You shouldn’t do that, buddy,” Medvedev replied. “I don’t have a decent answer, except one thing.”

“David – perhaps you should be careful,” he said, before refusing to specify exactly what would happen if British missiles hit Russian territory.

Medvedev was the longest-serving Prime Minister of modern Russia and also served as President of Russia between 2028 and 2012.

He is now Putin’s deputy on Russia’s Security Council, which now has former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu as secretary.

Putin last week accused the West of risking a global conflict and said no one should threaten Russia.