Donald Trump issued a stark warning about the potential for World War Three during an interview on Fox News, just hours before Vladimir Putin launched a fresh wave of attacks on Ukraine. The former US president, who had recently spoken with Putin for two hours, argued that his push for a broader peace agreement could prevent the US from being drawn into the conflict.
During the interview, Trump acknowledged that Russia holds a strategic advantage in the ongoing war, citing the encirclement of approximately 2,500 Ukrainian soldiers. He emphasized the precarious nature of the situation, stating, “Right now, you have a lot of guns pointing at each other, and a ceasefire without going a little bit further would have been tough.”
Trump expressed concern over the possibility of the conflict escalating into a global war, saying, “Look, we’re doing this – there are no Americans involved. There could be if you end up in World War Three over this, which is so ridiculous.” He suggested that a comprehensive peace agreement, rather than a simple ceasefire, would be necessary to avoid further escalation.
Despite Trump’s efforts to broker peace, Putin rejected the US proposal for a full, unconditional ceasefire. Instead, the Russian leader agreed to halt strikes on energy and infrastructure, but hours later, Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine, targeting hospitals, homes, and other civilian infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that over 40 drones were launched by Russia following the call with Trump, with Ukrainian air defense units intercepting 72 of 145 drones. The attacks caused significant damage in regions including Sumy, Kyiv, Odesa, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, and Chernihiv.
Zelensky condemned Putin’s actions, stating on Telegram, “Today, Putin de facto rejected the proposal for a complete ceasefire.” He urged the international community to block any attempts by Russia to prolong the war.
The situation highlights the fragility of ceasefire agreements and the challenges of achieving lasting peace in the region. As tensions continue to escalate, the risk of broader conflict remains a pressing concern for global leaders.
