Trump Reacts To Putin's Nuclear Threats: 'Could Now End Up Being World War III'

Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday responded to Russian President Vladimir Putin's warning about potentially using nuclear weapons to win the war in Ukraine, saying the conflict could end up triggering a third World War.

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the conflict in Ukraine would never have happened if he was still president and warned that Russia's invasion of Ukraine could lead to the start of World War III.

"President Putin of Russia is now threatening the use of Nuclear Weapons, saying 'it is not a bluff.' The Ukrainian conflict should never have happened, and would not have happened if I were President," Trump wrote. "But as I have made very clear for quite some time, this could now end up being World War III."

In a national address Wednesday, Putin announced that he was calling up about 300,000 reservists to bolster the Russian troops in Ukraine, where his military had recently been struggling to fend off Kyiv's counteroffensive.

In his address, he also accused Western countries of "nuclear blackmail." While he did not explicitly say that Russia will use nuclear weapons in the war, he noted that Moscow will use "all the weapons" at its disposal to win the war.

"Those who make such statements against Russia — I'd like to remind you that our country also has various means of destruction. And, in some areas, more advanced than those of NATO countries. If the territorial unity of our country is threatened, in order to protect Russia and our nation, we will unquestionably use all the weapons we have. This is no bluff," he said during the address.

"Citizens of Russia can be confident that the territorial integrity of our Motherland, our independence and freedom are secured. I will highlight this once again: by any means possible. And those who try to blackmail us with nuclear weapons should know that the wind might turn back in their direction," he added.

In response to his threats, the European Commission has begun drafting a new sanctions package against Russia, four diplomats with knowledge of the matter told POLITICO. They are expected to discuss the new proposals with EU ambassadors as soon as this week.