World War 3 News: Ex-NATO Commander Suggests West Start Preparing For ‘War With Russia’

A former NATO commander has urged the West to prepare for a possible war with Russia, an event that he called to be “the worst-case scenario” of the Ukraine conflict.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s “Today” program, Sir Richard Shirreff warned that Russia is likely to respond aggressively to the West’s support of Ukraine. He also urged the West to start preparing for a war with Russia to deter President Vladimir Putin.

“The worst case is war with Russia,” he said. “By gearing itself up for the worst case, it is most likely to deter Putin because ultimately Putin respects strength.”

Shirreff, who served as the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe between 2011 and 2014, also appeared in an interview with Leading Britain’s Conversation (LBC) where he said NATO needs to “change its mindset” to be prepared for the “worst case,” adding that the West is just “tiptoeing” into the Ukraine conflict.

"There needs to be a fundamental reappraisal of strategy, defense capability, mobilization, rearmament, regeneration of armed forces across the NATO alliance,” he added.

Shirreff’s warnings come as Russian state media continue to hype up the rhetoric that World War III is imminent. Putin on Wednesday also warned of retaliation against any nation that interferes with the war in Ukraine.

Despite the warnings, U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday asked Congress to fund a new $33 billion aid package for Ukraine. While details have yet to be finalized, the aid package is expected to include equipment that Ukrainian forces could use now amid the war and for the longer term, officials familiar with the discussion told NBC News.

In addition to the new military aid package, lawmakers in the House of Representatives passed legislation that would allow the Biden administration to quickly supply weapons to Ukraine on loan in a sweeping 417-to-10 vote.

The eight-decade-old Lend-Lease Act of 1941 was first created to bolster British forces battling Nazis in Germany. The law would allow the president to lend military equipment to any foreign country “whose defense the President deems vital to the defense of the United States.”