Valery Zaluzhny, Ukraine’s former military commander-in-chief, has claimed that World War III has already begun, citing the direct involvement of Russia’s allies such as North Korea, Iran, and China in the ongoing conflict.
Zaluzhny, who was dismissed by President Volodymyr Zelensky, now serves as Ukraine’s envoy to the United Kingdom.
In a recent statement, Zaluzhny said, “I believe that in 2024, we can say that the Third World War has begun.”
He emphasised that Ukraine is no longer fighting Russia alone, pointing to the increasing foreign military presence in the conflict. “Soldiers from North Korea are standing in front of Ukraine.
Iranian ‘Shahedis’ are killing civilians openly, and North Korean missiles are already hitting Ukrainian territory,” Zaluzhny added.
He also noted that Chinese-made parts are being used in Russian missiles, further escalating the scale of the war.
Zaluzhny’s comments came on the same day that UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer addressed the situation on BBC Radio Bristol, where he was asked whether Britain was at war.
Starmer responded, “No, we are not at war, but Ukraine certainly is because Russia has invaded Ukraine, and that war has been ongoing for over 1,000 days.” He added, “That’s 1,000 days of aggression from Russia and 1,000 days of sacrifice for Ukraine, and that’s why we have consistently stood by Ukraine. We cannot allow Putin to win this war.”
Starmer’s remarks follow a statement from Russia’s ambassador to the UK, who declared that Britain is now “directly involved” in the conflict, following Ukraine’s deployment of Storm Shadow missiles on Russian soil.
As the war approaches its fourth year, experts continue to warn that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could be the primary catalyst for a broader global conflict.
However, defining whether a world war has already begun is complicated. While previous world wars involved multiple continents and widespread international coalitions, the current conflict, despite its global implications, remains primarily between Russia and Ukraine.
The involvement of major powers such as North Korea, Iran, and China, along with the widespread disruption of global energy markets and food supplies, has led to growing concerns about the conflict’s potential to escalate further. Nonetheless, the war in Ukraine is not yet universally recognized as a world war.
