Putin ally Medvedev warns Russia 'ready' for direct conflict with 'fascist bloc' NATO

Amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has threatened that Russia is "left with no choice" but to engage in direct conflict with NATO member states. The warning was issued by Russia's current deputy security council chief after his Ukraine's visit, where he met the troops while donning military uniform. Medvedev reportedly went to Ukraine to deliver Russian President Vladimir Putin's "secret message" to troops. His visit seems important for Russia as it comes just a day after Abrams tanks arrived in the war-torn nation.

"It seems that Russia is being left with less and less choice but direct conflict with NATO," Medvedev wrote on his Telegram channel. 

On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the first US-made Abrams tanks arrived in Ukraine.

War with NATO over Abrams tanks & long-range missiles to Ukraine?

On his Telegram channel, Medvedev went on to criticise the supply of weapons to Ukraine by its Western allies and suggested that a war could break out over deliveries of Abrams tanks and the potential supply of long-range missiles to Ukraine. It is to note that the US has pledged to provide Kyiv with 31 of the vehicles. 

Meanwhie, the Russian government hit out at NATO allies for escalating the situation by providing Ukrainian troops with training, and assisting them with military intelligence, reported Newsweek. Claiming that NATO has "turned into an openly fascist bloc", Medvedev accused the military alliance of being like Nazi Germany and the Axis power, a coalition headed by Germany, Italy and Japan in World War II, "albeit larger." He further warned, "We are ready, although the result will be achieved at a much greater cost to humanity than in 1945." 

' A threat to whole humanity': Ukraine reacts to Russia's warning

Responding to Russia's threat, an adviser to Ukraine's minister of internal affairs, Anton Gerashchenko, stressed that the former Russian President "threatened" the whole humanity. Lambasting the deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, the Ukrainian Minister highlighted that these threats prove "these weapons will be highly effective on the battlefield." 

Taking to X, Gerashchenko wrote: "Medvedev is rattling the nuclear saber once more, it seems. He is threatening the whole of humanity for Abrams tanks deliveries and possible supplies of long-range missiles to Ukraine. That proves these weapons will be highly effective on the battlefield." 

Medvedev is rattling the nuclear saber once more, it seems. He is threatening the whole of humanity for Abrams tanks deliveries and possible supplies of long-range missiles to Ukraine. That proves these weapons will be highly effective on the battlefield.

Below is a translation… pic.twitter.com/wXM4iTCfrv

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en)