Featured Image Credit: Contributor/Getty Images
Topics: Russia, Ukraine, Vladimir Putin
Jess Battison
NATO has been given a stark warning to add to those escalating fears of World War III.
It’s been said that Russia ‘could strike London or Paris’ as Vladimir Putin’s next target could be a Western European city.
Tensions with the nation have continued to rise recently, particularly following the incident in Poland last week.
While Russia claimed it had not planned to target territory in the country, it had launched drones into Polish airspace, which were shot down by NATO jets.
Advert
The UK’s Defence Secretary, John Healey, had said Putin ‘is testing us’ as he said he has spoken to the Armed Forces ‘‘to look at options to bolster Nato’s air defence over Poland’.
But Ukraine’s UN rep, Andriy Melnyk, has now suggested the next target could be closer to home.
He said that if Russia’s escalation remains ‘without a decisive response’, then the nation ‘will not stop at Poland’.
“Tomorrow it could be drones or even missiles that fall on Berlin, Paris or London,” he said.
Advert
Melynk then went on to add that it could potentially end up with the US being targeted, as he said: “And the next day something could even ‘accidentally’ fly across the Atlantic. Russia is not mocking this council. It is spitting in your face.
The envoy warned leaders that if the council cannot stop Russia’s escalation, ‘we will not be talking about regional instability’.
“We are staring into the abyss of a Third World War,” he added.
A Russian TV propagandist also previously said in a tirade during a state-run broadcast that missiles could target Nato ministers who were gathered in London.
“So maybe [if] they are there today or tomorrow, we can hit them?” Moscow's mouthpiece’ Vladimir Solovyov, said.
Advert
“Well, it is possible, right? What's the problem? They are making plans against us. They gathered, all of Russia's main enemies are there now.
“Can they be hit then? Well, that's normal…”
NATO is said to be on high alert after Russia and Belarus began military drills on the borders of Poland, Lithuania and Latvia on Friday.
Russia’s drones in Polish territory last week marked the first defensive action of its kind since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022
Advert
And Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said in a statement: “This was an extremely reckless move by Russia and only serves to remind us of President Putin’s blatant disregard for peace, and the constant bombardment innocent Ukrainians face every day.”