Russian victory would lead to 'third world war,' Ukrainian PM warns

Two weeks after the United States passed its longawaited foreign aid bill, Ukraine's prime minister is warning that if his country falls to Russia, there will be a "third world war."

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told Rosemary Bar‐ ton Live Friday that Russia likely will target Poland and Baltic countries if Ukraine loses the conflict. That, he said, would "lead to the need for NATO to come into this war."

In the interview, Shmyhal called on the G7 and the Eu‐ ropean Union to work to‐ gether to protect not only the Ukrainian people but also de‐ mocratic values.

"We protect European val‐ ues, European borders, and we protect borders of the civ‐ ilized world," Shmyhal said, adding that supporting Ukraine is necessary to "pro‐ tect a global future."

Shmyhal's comments come a day after Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Free‐ land told a Chatham House event that a Russian victory in Ukraine "would be inaugu‐ rating a whole era of the de‐ cline of democracy, and the triumph of authoritarian regimes."

Praising Canada's support for his country, Shmyhal said

Friday that Freeland is "the biggest friend of Ukraine."

"We could communicate with her from the first min‐ utes of the war, and we have real support from your coun‐ try," he said, noting that Canada has given more than $13 billion to Ukraine in the past two years.

WATCH | Ukraine PM says losing to Russia would lead to a 'third world war'

Ottawa set aside $320 mil‐ lion in the recent budget for "the provision of lethal and non-lethal military aid" to Ukraine this year - part of a bilateral security assistance package signed by Ukrainian

President Volodymyr Zelen‐ skyy and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Kyiv in Feb‐ ruary.

The federal government has earmarked $1.6 billion for military aid to Ukraine over the next five years.

C-19, the budget imple‐ mentation bill, received royal assent in June 2022, allowing for the seizure and sale of as‐ sets owned by individuals and entities on Canada's sanctions list, including wealthy Russian oligarchs and government officials.

It's a move Shmyhal called an "exemplary model" for al‐ lies of Ukraine, and he ap‐ plauded the U.S. for following suit.

On April 23, the U.S. Sen‐ ate approved a $95 billion foreign aid package to sup‐ port Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies following months of delay.

Shmyhal confirmed that Ukraine is set to receive $61 billion from the U.S. that will mainly go toward the mili‐ tary. While he said he's grate‐ ful for the funding, Shmyhal said Ukraine still urgently needs missiles and ammuni‐ tion for air defence systems, along with long-range and mid-range weapons to de‐ fend its cities.

He said he hopes the U.S. will decide this year how and where it will direct confis‐ cated Russian assets, adding that Ukraine needs more than $486 billion to recover from the war.

Expectations of NATO Ukraine is counting on NATO members to decide on the country's application for membership at the next summit in Washington, D.C. in July, Shmyhal said.

Ukraine formally applied for NATO membership in September 2022, seven mon‐ ths after Russia's invasion.

"Our army works ac‐ cording to the NATO stan‐ dards," Shmyhal said. "We implemented all needed re‐ forms, and now we are a step before invitation."

Asked whether Ukraine would welcome additional troops from NATO countries something French President Emmanuel Macron sug‐ gested in a recent interview with The Economist - Shmy‐ hal said reinforcements cer‐ tainly would help push back the Russians. But for now, he said, Ukraine is asking its partners for military equip‐ ment.

"If the time comes, we will be absolutely grateful, and we will be glad," he said.