Putin says if World War Three is underway

The threat level is rising globally, but there is no need to scare people with talk of World War Three, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.

During an interview published by Russia 1 TV journalist Pavel Zarubin on Sunday, Putin was asked if the extensive involvement of the US in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine meant that WWIII has already begun.

“You know, one should not scare people,” the president replied. However, he added that “there are many dangers, and they keep increasing.”

“We see what our current opponents are doing. They are escalating the situation,” Putin said after Zarubin mentioned plans by the administration of US President Joe Biden to drastically increase the amount of weapons deliveries to Ukraine during his final weeks in office.

“If they want it so much, if their life is so bad, let them escalate,” the president stressed during a conversation recorded after his end-of-year press conference on Thursday.

Russia will “always respond to any challenge” coming from the West, he insisted.

“And when our current opponents - and maybe potential partners - will finally hear, understand and realize this, it seems to me that at that point the realization will come that what is needed is to seek compromises,” he said.

Moscow is ready to try to rebuild ties with the US and its allies, but it should only happen “without harming our interests,” Putin pointed out.