The clash between North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces and Russia would result in a “global catastrophe,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.
The Russian leader’s comments come more than seven months after he ordered the “special military operation” against Ukraine in late February. In the months leading up to the invasion, Ukraine’s relationship with NATO became a point of contention between its eastern European neighbors, with Russia underscoring demands that Ukraine should not grow too close to the West or join NATO sooner.
The threat also comes as Ukraine previously applied to join NATO, but Western leaders, including President Joe Biden, have dismissed the possibility of admission, citing corruption concerns. Ukraine’s entry into the organization could prompt NATO’s response to the war between Russia and Ukraine, which Russian officials said would end in “World War III.”
Putin stepped up his anti-NATO rhetoric during a news conference on Friday, calling any NATO military clash a “dangerous move.”
Above: Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks in Astana, Kazakhstan on Friday. The Russian leader threatened a “global catastrophe” during a news conference on Friday if NATO forces clash with Russia. Contributor/Getty Images
“In any case, bringing troops into direct contact, direct conflict, with the Russian army is a very dangerous move that could lead to a global catastrophe. I hope those who speak about this have the sanity not to take that step. ” he said.
The Putin threat comes as Ukraine hopes for accelerated NATO membership
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to speed up his country’s NATO bid in late September after Russia illegally annexed Ukrainian territories. However, NATO remains unlikely to accept its membership. If Ukraine becomes a member of NATO, its allies would have to defend it against Russia – essentially triggering a war between the alliance and Russia that would have far-reaching consequences.
Many NATO countries are currently providing military aid to the country. The United States has deployed highly mobile artillery rocket systems (HIMARS) which are credited with enabling Ukraine to launch its counter-offensives that have seen the country retake thousands of square miles of Russian-held territory.
However, NATO does not send troops to fight for Ukraine, thus avoiding a direct military conflict. NATO membership requires the unanimous consent of all 30 member states, a challenge Ukraine must overcome.
Alexander Venediktov, deputy secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, said on Thursday that Ukraine’s NATO entry “would mean a guaranteed escalation to a third world war”.
“The suicidal nature of this move [to admit Ukraine to NATO] understood by NATO members themselves,” he said.
Since the beginning of the conflict, NATO has pledged to admit two new member states, Sweden and Finland. Finland’s admission could allow NATO to move nuclear weapons near the Russian border – and 600 miles from the Kremlin. NATO membership would strengthen their defenses, and the international community hopes it would deter any Russian attack on the two nations.
NATO faces growing nuclear concerns
NATO and the wider international community continue to face growing concerns that Russia may resort to nuclear weapons if it faces defeat in Ukraine. Putin has sharpened his language on nuclear weapons, threatening to use nuclear weapons amid mounting casualties in Ukraine.
NATO will begin exercises to test the Alliance’s nuclear deterrent capabilities. The test, which was planned before Russia announced its invasion, will take place hundreds of kilometers from Russia’s border but has drawn some rebukes from the international community.
“Following Russia’s egregious nuclear threats related to its all-out invasion of Ukraine, these NATO exercises are doing nothing to allay fears about the possible use of nuclear weapons,” Daniel Högsta, campaign coordinator of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, said earlier to Newsweek.
Newsweek asked NATO for comment.