Russian President Vladimir Putin says a direct conflict between Russia and NATO would mean that the planet is one step away from World War Three.
The statements came after his landslide victory in Russia’s presidential election, receiving 87.8 percent of the vote.
The United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and other countries have claimed that the election was not free or fair because political opponents were imprisoned and censored.
Speaking after his post-election briefing, the Russian president said, “It is clear to everyone that this will be one step away from a full-scale World War Three. I think hardly anyone is interested in this.”
French President Emmanuel Macron has already stated that he cannot rule out the prospect of deploying ground soldiers to Ukraine.
Responding to inquiries concerning Macron’s words and the risks and possibilities of conflict between Russia and NATO, the Russian leader said, “Everything is possible in the modern world.”
He also stated that NATO forces were already in Ukraine.
Earlier, Putin claimed that Russia was technically prepared for a nuclear war. He stated that if the United States sent troops into Ukraine, it would be viewed as a substantial escalation of the situation.
In reaction, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Putin should not make threats while his country holds nuclear weapons.
According to the French president, he has not spoken to Putin in several months. Such a discussion was held “when necessary.”
In reaction to Putin’s statements, the United States stated that it does not believe Russia intends to deploy nuclear weapons against Ukraine.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
