Putin says conflict between Russia and NATO will lead to World War III

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said after the country’s elections that should there be a conflict between Russia and NATO, the world would be "one step away" from World War III.
Putin's response to the question of whether a full-scale conflict between Russia and NATO is possible: "I think that everything is possible in today's world."
However, the Russian president said "it is unlikely anyone would be interested in this".
"It is clear to everyone that Russo-NATO conflict would be just one step away from a full-scale World War III," he added.
Russian President has said that it is no secret that fighters from NATO states are present on the ground in Ukraine, arguing that these service members are facing extremely grim prospects.
Speaking to his supporters and the media after his presidential election victory, Putin stressed that Moscow is well aware of calls in the US-led military bloc to potentially deploy troops to Ukraine.
“We hear both French and English speech there. There is nothing good in this, first of all for them, because they die there and in large numbers,” he said.
French President Emmanuel Macron suggested last month that the West “cannot exclude” the possibility of sending soldiers to aid Ukraine. He later described Russia as an “adversary,” insisting, however, that Paris is not “waging war on” Moscow.
Commenting on Macron’s remarks, Putin noted that while NATO troops in Ukraine are expected to act as an auxiliary force, helping Kiev train its military, “this is not much different from what mercenaries are doing there now.” Russia, he added, wants France not to escalate the conflict but to help find a peaceful solution to hostilities.