Putin ally warns ‘World War 3 is getting closer’ and slams ‘completely mad West’ for supporting Ukraine at Nato summit

WORLD War 3 is “getting closer” because of the “completely mad West”, one of Vladimir Putin’s top allies has warned. Ex-Russian president Dmitry Medvedev claimed the world is hurtling towards an all-out conflict because of the support of Ukraine at the Nato summit. GettyDmitry Medvedev is one of Vladimir Putin’s closest allies[/caption] AFPRussia, pictured here testing a Sarmat missile, has warned of global conflict[/caption] But Medvedev, who serves as the deputy secretary of the Kremlin’s powerful Security Council, insisted aid would not stop Russia achieving its goals in the war-torn country. Taking to Telegram as the first day of the Nato summit in Lithuania wrapped up, Medvedev made his latest threat of war following a series of similar, deranged warnings. He said: “The completely mad West could not come up with anything else. “In fact, it’s a dead end. World War Three is getting closer. “What does all this mean for us? Everything is obvious. The special military operation will continue with the same goals” Medvedev has repeatedly threatened nuclear war amid rising tensions between Russia and the West over the Ukraine war. Just weeks ago, he warned the risk of nuclear oblivion is edging closer as humanity stands on the brink of World War 3. He told an audience in Moscow the West was to blame for taking the world to the brink of Armageddon. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov has doubled done on Medvedev’s latest threats – insisting providing Ukraine with help would have “very, very negative consequences”. He said: “By providing any security guarantees to Ukraine, these countries are actually ignoring the international principle of the indivisibility of security. “That is, by providing security guarantees to Ukraine, they encroach on the security of the Russian Federation.” It comes as Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday slammed the “absurd” dithering over Ukraine joining Nato and accused Western leaders of freezing him out of talks. The wartime President rocked the first day of the alliance’s annual summit with furious claims that there was “no readiness” for his country to become a member.  Rishi Sunak insisted he wanted to see “demonstrable progress” on a pathway for Ukraine to join the security pact. But other premiers including Joe Biden have appeared more hesitant and hinted Ukrainian membership would be far into the future. Zelensky’s outburst failed to move Nato allies to agree on an accelerated timetable for membership  Western leaders talked about membership progression – agreed in principle in 2008 – during the gathering in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius.  In a weak-worded joint communiqué they said: “We will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the Alliance when Allies agree and conditions are met.” President Zelensky is jetting in for the meet but ahead of his arrival tweeted a blistering attack saying Ukraine “deserves respect”. He said he had “received signals” that wording about accession was being discussed “without Ukraine”. Taking aim at the delays, he said: “I would like to emphasise that this wording is about the invitation to become a NATO member, not about Ukraine’s membership. “It’s unprecedented and absurd when the time frame is not set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine’s membership. “While at the same time vague wording about ‘conditions’ is added even for inviting Ukraine. “It seems there is no readiness neither to invite Ukraine to NATO nor to make it a member of the Alliance.” ReutersMedvedev, left, pictured with Deputy Defence Minister Nikolay Pankov, has made repeated threats against the West[/caption] AFPZelensky has accused Western leaders of freezing him out of talks[/caption] AFPWorld leaders including Rishi Sunak and Zelensky have gathered at the Nato summit in Lithuania[/caption]