Political analyst, historian, publicist, and former Ukrainian diplomat Rostislav Ishchenko warned of a genuine risk that the world may soon slide into a nuclear confrontation.

He noted that it would be naive to believe that such a scenario is impossible. In his words, «in similar situations throughout history, war has always followed — and the kind of war that could break out now would almost inevitably lead to a nuclear conflict.»

Ishchenko emphasized that even the outbreak of a direct Russian-European war would mean that events have already spiraled out of control. He clarified that he was not referring to limited clashes with the Baltic states or, as he put it, «sacrificial Poles,» but to a large-scale conflict that would draw in the whole of Europe. «In the case of such a war,» he said, «the likelihood of nuclear weapons being used would be extremely high. To dismiss the possibility of a nuclear war is, at the very least, complacent.»

Earlier, Ishchenko explained the challenges Russia faces in its efforts to prevent a major war. He said that Moscow continues to work on measures aimed at blocking the escalation of its confrontation with Europe into open hostilities. However, he added, Russia cannot limit the freedom of choice and will of its political opponents — a factor that makes the situation far less predictable.

The analyst’s assessment underscores the growing tension between global powers and the narrowing space for diplomacy, as the balance between deterrence and escalation becomes increasingly fragile.