Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has raised alarms about the potential for a world war if Russian President Vladimir Putin's aggression in Ukraine is not contained.

Zelenskyy emphasized that Putin's ambitions extend beyond Ukraine, aiming to restore the Russian empire, which would threaten NATO-allied nations.

He warned that any attack on Russia or Belarus would lead to a unified retaliation against NATO, particularly affecting Poland and the Baltic states.

In response, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte assured that any aggression towards NATO would provoke a severe response, predicting substantial losses for Russia.

Meanwhile, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Naryshkin accused France, Great Britain, and Germany of escalating tensions, calling for preemptive measures.

Naryshkin's comments followed a meeting between U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Putin in St. Petersburg, where they discussed a potential ceasefire in the ongoing conflict that began in February 2022.