However, there are still concerns that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine could turn into a broader conflict. In an article for Politico, experts outlined some disturbing scenarios in which the fighting in Ukraine could spill over into World War III.
Journalist David Herzenhorn explains: “Western allies provide Ukraine with weapons and other materials, but have ruled out the idea of a no-fly zone. European Union countries offer air defense systems, but have rejected Ukraine’s request for combat aircraft. No country has offered to send troops. However, he acknowledges Senior Western government officials, diplomats, and military analysts say there is a serious risk that the United States and its NATO allies may be drawn into war, as a result of some frightening scenarios.
Ukraine is bordered by seven different countries, ranging from Russia to NATO members that include Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania. Ukraine also has a border with Belarus, Russia’s main ally.
A Washington-based military analyst told Politico that if Russian forces attacked a NATO member – even by mistake – it could easily escalate the conflict.
The analyst described some of the ways in which the conflict between Ukraine and Russia could lead to World War III: “Mistake missile on Poland. It is not impossible, then it escalates very quickly. Then we will have to respond. Or in another scenario, protests against crimes against humanity arrive It is so strong that we are forced to intervene. Imposing a no-fly zone on Ukraine means killing the Russians. Anything we do that results in the killing of the Russians puts us in World War III.”
Admiral James Stavridis – a retired US Navy SEAL who served as the supreme commander of NATO forces – said he doubted Putin would intentionally attack a NATO country.
Journalist Herzenhorn notes that “on Wednesday, Russian planes violated Swedish airspace several times”, while “an Estonian cargo ship sank off the coast of Odessa, apparently after hitting a mine. Any such incident could easily escalate.”
“Russia is ready to use a thermonuclear bomb in Ukraine,” a European official, who was not identified, told Politico. That official added that the conflict between Ukraine and Russia is more serious than the Balkan conflicts in the early 1990s.
“There is a possibility that a real European war, or a world war, will break out very quickly,” the European official told Politico. “This possibility is getting deeper every day.”