Putin to tip US into World War III if nuclear weapons ‘come out’

Vladimir Putin could force Joe Biden’s America to intervene in the Ukraine war if the Kremlin deploys nuclear weapons, a retired US Navy admiral warned. Russia has conducted missile exercises, with the latest one including a possible test of a new nuclear-powered torpedo in recent weeks. A nuclear strike on Ukrainian territory would plunge the world into a full-blown Third World War, Retired US Navy Admiral Mike Mullen said.Speaking to PBS’s Amanpour programme, retired US Navy Admiral Mike Mullen said: “It’s just a really dangerous time, quite frankly. “And this war needs an end without those weapons being used.”I fear greatly that actually if those weapons come out, we are pretty close to World War III and a war with Russia – no longer just Ukraine and Russia. “It’s the US and Russia.” Mike Mullen warned Vladimir Putin could drag the US into a Third World War (Image: GETTY TWITTER/@AmanpourCoPBS) Mike Mullen said: ‘we are pretty close to World War III and a war with Russia’ (Image: TWITTER/@AmanpourCoPBS)Despite growing internal pressure on Vladimir Putin, the retired admiral said he believes the Russian leader is going to stay in power. The only way the war will come to an end, he said, is through a negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia.”I’m on that believes Putin’s going to stay in power. There are people that would like to see him go. I just don’t think that’s going to happen,” admiral Mullen said.”Every war comes to an end. Every war typically comes to a negotiated end. “And there needs to be guidelines and boundaries that gets created into which a negotiation can occur – not least of which, before Putin is so desperate that he might pull the trigger on a nuclear weapon.”READ MORE: Wagner mercenary boss rages at prisoner executed trying to desert Vladimir Putin’s Russia has been conducting nuclear-powered missile exercises (Image: GETTY) Joe Biden warned Putin would be making a ‘serious mistake’ with the launch of nuclear weapons (Image: GETTY)Russia raised the spectre of a potentialy deployment of nuclear weapons in recent weeks with nuclear-powered vessel exercises. The US reportedly observed a cruise missile submarine modified for special operations that is able to launch unmanned underwater vehicles including the Poseidon torpedo.Joe Biden warned Russia would be making a  “serious, serious mistake” should it deploy a tactical nuclear weapon in Ukraine in his latest warning to President Vladimir Putin against escalating the conflict. “I spent a lot of time today talking about that,’ Biden said when questioned about Russia’s intentions.”Let me just say Russia would be making incredibly serious mistake if it were to use a tactical nuclear weapon,” the US President said. “I’m not guaranteeing that it’s a false flag operation yet. We don’t know. It would be a serious, serious mistake.”DON’T MISS:Rishi Sunak vows to ‘call out Putin’s regime’ at G20 summit [REPORT]     Kremlin ‘particularly’ keen to negotiate an end to Ukraine conflict [REPORT]     Putin’s ‘personal confessor’ makes unprecedented plea to end war [REPORT]      Kherson residents have been celebrating the end of Russia’s eight-month occupation of the city (Image: EXPRESS)Similarly, China’s Premier Li Keqiang the “irresponsibility” of nuclear threats, suggesting Beijing is uncomfortable with strategic partner Russia’s nuclear rhetoric. During the East Asia Summit on Sunday, Mr Li “put clear emphasis on sovereignty, on the irresponsibility of nuclear threats, the need to ensure that nuclear weapons are not used in the way that some have suggested,” an unnamed US official told Reuters. “I think it is also undeniable that China is probably both surprised and even a little bit embarrassed by the conduct of Russian military operations,” the official added. The warning comes as Kherson residents have been celebrating the end of Russia’s eight-month occupation of the southern Ukrainian city. READ NEXT:Iran ‘helping Putin swerve Western sanctions’Russians ‘will question war’ after latest retreatRolls-Royce could swerve Putin’s nuclear grip, expert saysMoscow pundit calls for army to prepare ‘full-scale war in Europe’UK foils Putin’s plot to sabotage vital South Atlantic pipeline