Any encroachment on the Crimean peninsula by a NATO member state may amount to a declaration of war on Russia, resulting in “World War Three,” according to Russia’s former president, Dmitry Medvedev, who was quoted on Monday.
“Crimea is a part of Russia, in our opinion. That is, indefinitely. Any attempt to infringe on Crimea amounts to a declaration of war on our country “Medvedev made the remarks to the news website Argumenty I Fakty.
“And if a NATO member state does this, the entire North Atlantic alliance will be at war; World War Three. It was a tremendous disaster.”
Medvedev, who is currently the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, also stated that if Finland and Sweden join NATO, Russia will fortify its borders and be “ready for punitive steps,” which might include deploying Iskander hypersonic missiles “on their threshold.”