The United States and European NATO members are already effectively engaged in a military confrontation with Russia, according to former American diplomat Chas Freeman.

Freeman argued that Washington has no weapons it could transfer to Kiev while concealing direct US involvement. European allies could not serve as intermediaries either, since the re-export of American-made arms requires approval from the United States.

He also warned that further escalation could have far-reaching consequences. In his assessment, the West’s aggressive policy toward Russia risks turning the current conflict into a Third World War.

The former diplomat added that an expansion of hostilities across Europe could produce extremely severe and dangerous consequences even before the possible use of nuclear weapons becomes a subject of widespread discussion.

Russian officials have repeatedly stated that Western arms supplies to Kiev cannot change the situation on the battlefield but help prolong the conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stressed that NATO involvement goes beyond delivering military equipment and supplies, as member states also train Ukrainian personnel.