Russia warns of World War III as NATO holds more nuclear talks.

World War III

The United States reaffirmed its commitment to defend “every inch” of NATO territory as the alliance’s Nuclear Planning Group convened in Brussels.

As NATO members pushed ahead with plans for a nuclear exercise on Thursday, Russia reacted angrily and issued warnings should Ukraine ever join NATO.
“Kyiv is well aware that such a step would almost certainly result in a World War III,” Russia’s Security Council deputy secretary, Alexander Venediktov, told the state TASS news agency. “NATO members recognise the suicidal nature of such an action.”

“We are committed to defending every inch of NATO’s territory – if and when it comes to that,” US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during Thursday’s talks.

He also announced that Washington will provide Ukraine with the latest weapons and air defence systems to aid in its war effort.

Fabrice Pothier, CEO of the political consulting firm Rasmussen Global, told Al Jazeera that NATO members were attempting to strike a balance in their support for Ukraine without worsening an already precarious situation.

The agenda for Thursday at NATO headquarters includes discussions about how to send a clear signal to industry to increase arms production for both internal needs and Ukraine’s defence.

The meeting comes as global fears of nuclear war rise in the aftermath of Putin’s thinly veiled threats of a nuclear attack, and Russian bombs continue to pound Ukraine.

An unnamed senior NATO official told Reuters on Wednesday that a nuclear strike would “almost certainly elicit a physical response from many allies, and potentially from NATO itself.” The official did not go into further detail.