Nowadays, however, the whole world witnesses what nuclear power really means on the battlefield. The fact that nuclear power served as a strong deterrent was already known as experts analyzed the plans and efforts of various countries to develop nuclear weapons. If a real war starts against us, those who make such plans should think about that.” Those words were not uttered to save face. He also noted that World War III would be “nuclear” and “destructive.” Although Lavrov said that the West, not Russia, was thinking about nuclear weapons, he made sure to deliver the following message: “There is talk about the possibility of nuclear war. Finally, Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, alleged that Ukraine posed a nuclear threat against his country as part of a statement on Ukraine’s demilitarization. United States President Joe Biden proceeded to say that the alternative to severe economic sanctions was World War III. Leaving aside the Kremlin’s bold statements on national security, the Russian leader has shocked the world by playing the nuclear card within the first week of the war. Yet the public debate on “World War III” and nuclear war, which has taken place in recent days, is deeply concerning and set to have certain long-term effects.
That message threatens to reactivate frozen conflicts and disputes between nations. Having attacked Ukraine under the pretext of Russia’s national security, Vladimir Putin conveys a dangerous message to all great and regional powers – that each nation can engage in revisionist behavior citing their national security. The deeds and words of the Russian president, who made clear his intention to build an empire, have obviously entailed major ruptures. It is clear that great power competition has reached a new level. Those folks, who maintain that the international community must refrain from “appeasing” Russia’s Vladimir Putin (as it once appeased Adolf Hitler), think back to the Munich Agreement of 1938.
Amid the Ukraine crisis (and the fear of “nuclear war”) similar comparisons are made between the present and the prelude to World War II. Two years ago, when the coronavirus pandemic began, many experts argued that the world was experiencing something akin to World War I. In the event of major crises, world wars – horrible tragedies that devastated mankind – inevitably come to mind. The Russian invasion of Ukraine fuels the concern that the international system has entered a path that will lead to World War III.
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