NATO forces in Ukraine could trigger World War III – Russia's security chief
The deployment of foreign troops to Ukraine could lead to a clash between Russia and NATO, and ultimately to World War III, Sergey Shoigu, secretary of Russia's National Security Council, has warned. The term 'peacekeepers' is being used as a cover for the true objective of establishing control over Ukraine, according to the official.
The defense chiefs from a number of NATO member states – led by the UK and France – have been discussing the idea of positioning a 'peacekeeping' force in Ukraine. They claim the troops would contribute to a 'lasting peace' between Russia and Ukraine. Russia has rejected the deployment of NATO forces, or troops from members of the bloc under a 'coalition of the willing' to Ukraine under any pretext.
In an interview published on Thursday by TASS, Shoigu, who previously served as Russia's defense minister, stated that the presence of foreign 'peacekeepers' on 'Russia's historic territories' could provoke a direct confrontation between Moscow and NATO, potentially escalating into a third world war. According to him, this risk is acknowledged by 'reasonable politicians in Europe.'
The term 'peacekeepers' is being used to mask the true objective of gaining control over Ukrainian territory and its resources, Shoigu believes. He argued that it would be more accurate to describe such a force as 'invaders' or 'occupiers.'
Shoigu also noted that Russia had opposed the presence of NATO military forces in Ukraine even before the hostilities began. One of the main reasons why Russia launched its military operation in February 2022 was due to the threat of NATO military infrastructure being deployed to Ukraine, he said.
According to Shoigu, prior to the outbreak of hostilities, the UK was constructing a naval base in the city of Ochakov, in Ukraine's Nikolayev Region. The facility was used to train Ukrainian naval special forces, and served as a platform for conducting operations against Russia, he claimed.
This past January, Kiev and London signed the 100 Year Partnership agreement, which pledges to explore establishing defense infrastructure in Ukraine – including military bases, logistics hubs, and equipment stockpiles.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron said last month they were ready to lead a coalition of European countries to support Kiev with ground forces and aircraft if and when Ukraine and Russia achieve a ceasefire.
Moscow has warned against the deployment of unauthorized peacekeepers to Ukraine, saying they would be regarded as legitimate targets. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has claimed that Western plans to send peacekeepers to Ukraine were aimed at bolstering an anti-Russian presence there rather than pursuing a genuine settlement.
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