The former head of the British Army has warned we “can’t rule out World War Three” as Russia continues its bombardment of Ukraine.
General Sir Mike Jackson said the world was now in “unchartered territory” and that he is increasingly fearful nuclear weapons will again be used.
In an exclusive interview with GB News he was asked directly if he believed things could escalate into a third World War, to which he said: “I can’t rule it out. I find that very hard to say. The situation is now very delicate in terms of east west and its future. Its uncharted territory. We haven’t, thank God, seen nuclear weapons used since 1945. But I honestly can’t say with confidence we can survive another century without such use.”
Speaking to Alastair Stewart this afternoon (Sunday) he also urged the Prime Minister to “play the long game” as he continues to try and support Ukraine.
He said: “Strategically we have to continue on the road we have now set out to assist Ukraine, short of offering military presence in the air or the ground. I am content with that argument. We have to continue ostracising Vladimir Putin while remembering our dispute isn’t with the Russian people. They, in the long term, are in as much danger from Putin as the rest of the world. We must play it long. Old points of contention in the West, socially, politically, should now be overshadowed by the strategic importance of getting this right.”
His comments come amid another hellish day across Ukraine.
Earlier today, Mariupol’s city council reported that an art school in the city, where about 400 people were sheltering, was attacked.
Steve McAndrew from the Red Cross in Lviv said the organisation was doing all it could to reach people in the besieged city of Mariupol.
McAndrew said the reports out of Mariupol “are troubling” and the latest he had heard was that around 350,000 people are trapped in the city.
He added that his colleagues are trying to get into Mariupol, but “it’s very, very difficult” to gain access.
McAndrew said the Red Cross has several facilities to provide support in Lviv, for example, but one of the difficulties it is facing at the moment is ensuring those who need it can get to them safely.
“They can be safe with us, they just need to get to us, but we need to get to them”, he added.
