The ‘totally crazy West’ is risking a third world war by supporting Ukraine, the former Russian president claimed.
Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council and an ally of Putin, said “World War III” was fast approaching and the Russian invasion of Ukraine “would continue.”
It comes as a ‘long-term’ security package for Ukraine to help ‘end the war’ will be announced by the G7 nations at today’s NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Mr Medvedev said: ‘The utterly crazy West has not invented anything else. In fact it is a dead end.
The Third World War is approaching. What does all this mean for us? Everything is clear. The special military operation continues with the same objectives.’
Dmitry Medvedev (left), now deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council and an ally of Putin, said ‘World War III’ was fast approaching and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would ‘continue’
Mr Medvedev said: ‘The utterly crazy West has not invented anything else. In fact, it is a dead end’. Pictured: A Russian Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile
In a statement echoed by the White House, the British government said: “The joint statement, which is expected to be signed by all members of the G7, will set out how allies will support Ukraine over the coming years to end the war and respond to any future attack.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak added: “As Ukraine makes strategic progress in their counter-offensive and the degradation of Russian forces begins to infect Putin’s front line, we are stepping up our formal arrangements to protect Ukraine for the long term.”
But Zelensky blasted early pledges of unity at the NATO summit on Tuesday after berating allies for failing to set a firm timeline for his country to join the alliance.
He took to Twitter to voice his complaints after saying Ukraine would be “represented” at the summit — amid indications he would meet President Joe Biden here, saying the attendance would be about “respect.”
‘But Ukraine also deserves respect. Now, on our way to Vilnius, we received signals that certain formulations are being discussed without Ukraine.
‘Abusrd’: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a statement berating NATO for refusing to commit to a timeline for his country’s accession. President Biden said days earlier that Ukraine was not “ready” to join
“And I would like to emphasize that this wording is about the invitation to join NATO, not Ukraine’s membership,” he said.
“It is unprecedented and absurd that no timetable has been set for the invitation, nor for Ukraine’s membership.
“At the same time adding vague terms about ‘conditions’ even for inviting Ukraine,” Zelensky said.
“This means that an opportunity is left to negotiate Ukraine’s NATO membership with Russia,” he said. “And for Russia, this means motivation to continue its terror.”
Last week, Mr Medvedev claimed that the West must stop opposing Russian aggression in Ukraine – otherwise it will face nuclear war, epidemics and famine that could wipe out millions.
He said that Putin would not accept any solution other than total defeat or the “destruction” of democratic Ukraine.
Last week, Mr Medvedev claimed that the West must stop opposing Russian aggression in Ukraine – otherwise it will face nuclear war, epidemics and famine that could wipe out millions of people.
He said that Putin would not accept any solution other than total defeat or the “destruction” of democratic Ukraine
“You don’t have to be a visionary to understand that the confrontation phase will take a very long time,” said Medvedev, now deputy head of Putin’s 70-year security council.
The confrontation will last for decades. One way to solve it is world war 3. But it is, of course, bad, because the victors are not at all assured of further prosperity, as was the case after previous world wars. Most likely there will simply be no winners.
He also called on Russia to suspend diplomatic relations with the UK and other countries that side with Kiev.
“It would be better to temporarily suspend diplomatic relations with Finland and similar countries (such as Poland, the Baltic States and of course the UK), or at least lower their level for a while.”
Medvedev, 57, is trying to position himself to return to the Kremlin if Putin wavers or is too ill to stay in power.
Medvedev served as president of Russia from 2008 to 2012 and was also the country’s longest-serving post-communist prime minister.