Nuclear war could only be ‘a few steps away’ as Russia and West face off over Ukraine, warns RAF chief

A NUCLEAR war could only be “a few steps away” amid mounting tensions between Russia and the West, an RAF chief has warned. His warning comes amid growing fears the conflict in Ukraine could escalate to a World War Three involving nuclear weapons. APThe warning comes amid fears of a nuclear war[/caption] Crown CopyrightAir Marshal Edward Stringer CBE said a nuclear war could be a few steps away[/caption] AP:Associated PressPutin has put his nuclear weapons arsenal into “combat duty” mode[/caption] Lord West previously warned that a single wrong move in the Russia and Ukraine crisis could spark a nuclear war. And now Air Marshal Edward Stringer CBE told LBC that the possibility of nuclear war would be “weight on the minds” of world leaders. He said: “It’s no longer unthinkable and it will clearly be weighing on the minds of those who are making all the political calculations at the moment, hence the very straight and consistent line from Biden and all the other senior heads of state recently. He added: “It’s in the realms of possibility, and that’s what people have to get their heads around.” READ MORE ON UKRAINE TIPPING POINT Live Ukraine updates as experts say Putin's army will self-destruct in weeks ‘SUICIDE MISSION’ My wife said she'd leave me when I told her I'd gone to fight in Ukraine He added you could “sketch a plausible chain of events” that may lead to nuclear war, which is “only a few steps to get from where we are now”. “That’s only a few steps to get from where we are now to a confrontation that could see the use of nuclear weapons, which I think is a pretty terrifying prospect for anybody sensible,” he said. The warning comes a day after Russia released terrifying new footage of its 7,000mph Zircon hypersonic nuke missile. The catastrophic weapon that could hit London in minutes, has been branded “unstoppable.” Most read in The Sun 'SEE YA!' Emmerdale shock as Mackenzie Boyd quits the village OH MAN I’m average-looking but my man is insanely hot - people ask if I’m self-conscious MUM'S THE WORD Lewis Hamilton changing his NAME for new F1 season in sweet tribute to mum Linda Sob-son Linda Robson breaks down in tears live on Loose Women after turning 64 MUM’S HORROR I'm sharing photos of my baby boy so no other parents have to endure our hell CHILLING WARNING Russia tests 7,000mph hypersonic missile that could hit London in 5mins The clip shows a Mach 9 Zircon – or Tsirkon – missile being fired from the Admiral Gorshkov frigate in the White Sea. Putin has repeatedly warned the West it will face “untold consequences” if challenged over Ukraine. And fears the devastating conflict could become nuclear mounted when the Russian dictator ordered his nuke forces on high alert. The Russian leader’s decision to put his nuclear weapons arsenal into “combat duty” mode sparked fears across the world. It comes as: China is willing to send weapons to Russia to help its invasion, the US has warned. Sobbing Russian soldiers apologised for killing “civilians and children” in Ukraine.A Russian drone was reportedly shot down in Ukraine today after claims it flew into Polish airspace.An anti-war activist stormed Russia’s main propaganda news show with a sign saying: “They’re lying to you.”One of the world’s most fearsome snipers has vowed that he “won’t hesitate to squeeze the trigger”.Brit fighter says Ukrainian forces are “like the Taliban on steroids”.Russia has released chilling new footage of its hypersonic nuke missile that could hit London in five minutes. The former chief of the Royal Navy, Lord West said one “miscalculation” could spark a war in Europe – which could spiral into a world war involving the use of nuclear weapons. And ex-Nato Deputy Supreme Allied Commander of Europe, General Sir Adrian Bradshaw, said Putin’s invasion of Ukraine could spark a nuclear war if Russian troops step into Nato territories. Western leaders have been reluctant to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine, despite repeated pleas from the Ukrainian president, fearing it will trigger a wider war with Putin. The Air Marshal added: “That is why when there were calls for no-fly zones, the political leadership was quick to point out that Nato is a defensive alliance and Nato is not being attacked. “Nato is not constructed to go onto the offensive, if it did it would be taking on another nuclear power – Russia.” Read More on The Sun BATTLE OF WILLS Russians ‘could buckle in 10 DAYS' as Ukraine kills '13,500 troops' FRESH WINCE Will Smith blasts Rebel Wilson’s joke about his marriage at the Baftas Earlier this month Russia held nuclear drills with subs and land-based missiles. Russia’s Northern Fleet said in a statement that several of its nuclear submarines were involved in exercises designed to “train manoeuvring in stormy conditions”. Russia released footage of the Zircon missile Help those fleeing conflict with The Sun’s Ukraine Fund PICTURES of women and children fleeing the horror of Ukraine’s devastated towns and cities have moved Sun readers to tears. Many of you want to help the five million caught in the chaos — and now you can, by donating to The Sun’s Ukraine Fund. Give as little as £3 or as much as you can afford and every penny will be donated to the Red Cross on the ground helping women, children, the old, the infirm and the wounded. Donate here to help The Sun’s fund Or text to 70141 from UK mobiles £3 — text SUN£3£5 — text SUN£5£10 — text SUN£10 Texts cost your chosen donation amount (e.g. £5) +1 standard message (we receive 100%). For full T&Cs visit redcross.org.uk/mobile The Ukraine Crisis Appeal will support people in areas currently affected and those potentially affected in the future by the crisis. In the unlikely event that the British Red Cross raise more money than can be reasonably and efficiently spent, any surplus funds will be used to help them prepare for and respond to other humanitarian disasters anywhere in the world. For more information visit https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/disaster-fund