(Melbourne) – The Kremlin has once again raised global tensions by threatening Donald Trump with World War Three should he persist in supporting Ukraine, exposing the dangerous game Russia’s dictatorship is playing as its full-scale invasion of Ukraine grinds into its third year.
Speaking on Russian state television, top propagandist Vladimir Solovyov echoed a chilling warning from former Russian figurehead Dmitry Medvedev, who accused Trump of “playing with World War Three” by continuing to back Ukraine. This follows Trump’s increasingly inconsistent position on the war. After initially claiming he could “end the war in a day” and blaming Ukraine for its own invasion, the US President now appears to have changed his tone, branding the Russian dictator “absolutely crazy”.
General Jack Keane, a four-star retired general and former Vice Chief of Staff of the US Army, told Sky News that Trump seems to be waking up to the fact that the Russian dictator has been manipulating him. “Putin talks peace to Trump while ordering strikes on Ukrainian civilians,” Keane said.
Despite Russia dangling offers of peace talks involving Ukraine and Turkey, experts like Keane believe these are merely delay tactics. “The Russian dictator is stalling for time,” Keane warned, “hoping to wear down Trump’s resolve and fracture Western unity.”
Trump expressed frustration after recent civilian deaths during what were purported to be peace discussions. “I’m very disappointed by what happened… in the middle of what you’d call negotiations,” he said. Trump vowed to reassess whether the Russian dictator is “tapping us along” and hinted that a tougher response might follow if he concludes that is the case.
General Keane argued that Putin remains obsessed with victory in Ukraine. He believes the Russian dictator sees success there as essential to his survival. “If he fails, he will likely lose power – and possibly his life,” Keane said.
The broader geopolitical landscape is also troubling. Keane noted that the United States, already stretched by growing threats from Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, could struggle to win a war against China in the near term due to a decade of declining military capacity.
The Trump administration is pushing for a massive military funding increase – £117 billion ($150 billion) – as part of a one-off supplemental package, which would represent the largest single boost in defence spending since the Second World War. The aim is to urgently rebuild missile stocks, air defence systems, and other critical deterrence tools.
Meanwhile, Chinese leader Xi Jinping has told his forces to be “ready by 2027”, raising fears of war in the Indo-Pacific. General Keane said the goal must be to make war too costly for Beijing to risk, while strengthening regional alliances – though he admitted a Pacific version of NATO is still out of reach.
Back in Europe, Ukraine remains the immediate frontline against tyranny. Keane called for more crippling sanctions on Russia and greater Western military assistance to Ukraine. “Once the Russian dictator sees that he cannot win, he may finally be forced to negotiate seriously,” he concluded.
All this fighting must STOP. This is Putins personal war and its costing thousands & thousands of valuable lives just for his pride
Stop it NOW!!!