12:02 07-04-2026

Expert: NATO War with Russia Not World War III

RusPhotoBank

A political analyst says even NATO involvement against Russia would not mean world war, arguing only the US or Russia can trigger it.

Political analyst Rostislav Ishchenko said that even direct participation of European NATO countries in a war with Russia would not be considered the start of World War III.

In his assessment, such a global conflict can begin only if Russia or the United States makes a direct decision to initiate it. He argues that no other country currently has the capacity to start a world war without the backing of one of the superpowers.

Ishchenko also noted that China may eventually join the group of countries capable of initiating such a conflict, but at present it does not have that capability.

Overall, he emphasized that without a direct confrontation between Russia and the United States, actions by other countries-even collectively-would not trigger a third world war.