Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenko has warned that World War 3 may already be underway, saying peace hopes have been "shattered brutally" and that the conflict with Russia now involves soldiers and equipment from multiple countries.
Vasylenko, a prominent opposition politician and member of Kyiv's delegation to the Council of Europe, told the Sun that talks between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump had appeared positive, but breakdowns and disagreements meant "these hopes were shattered brutally" and the relationship was "complicated".
Peace talks raise hopes that are then broken
She said: "Every time that there's peace talks announced, the hopes go up. Every time that there seems to be our strategic friends and strategic partners back in power in the United States, for example, our hopes go up."
Vasylenko also explained that on the front line it does not simply feel as though Ukraine is fighting Russia, given how many different countries appear to be involved in the war effort.
Multiple countries involved in the conflict
She said: "In Ukraine, we have North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia. Russia is waging this war against Ukraine with Iranian Shahed drones. China has been supplying a whole lot of equipment unconditionally to Russia as well. And we have also captured Chinese prisoners of war.
"I mean, you tell me, is this World War Three or is this just Russia waging a war of aggression against Ukraine?"
Winter brings fears for Kyiv's infrastructure
She added that she fears the war is going to cause havoc in her home country over winter, especially as the enemy continues to attack vital infrastructure.
She said: "It's going to be a second, really difficult winter for us. Russia has specifically targeted energy infrastructure, especially in big cities and especially in the capital. Russia's strategy right now is to paralyse Kyiv completely."
Life in the capital is becoming more and more difficult, she explained.
"Kyiv is essentially a four-million city where millions live in apartment blocks — it's not like in the UK where people have more private houses.
"If there's no electricity, that means there's no water. That means the sewage system doesn't work.
"All of this is making life extremely difficult, and you can imagine that for the most vulnerable parts of the population - older people, people with disabilities, mothers with newborn babies — for them, life is completely impossible in the capital.
"And this is exactly what Russia wants to achieve - to make Kyiv unliveable, so that it becomes more vulnerable and easier to attack and take on."
