Nuke-threatened world ‘more dangerous’ than any time since WW2, top Brit security chief warns

GLOBAL relations are “more dangerous and unpredictable” than at any time since the end of the Second World War, one of Britain’s top diplomats has warned. Sir Peter Ricketts, the British government’s former National Security Adviser and head of the Diplomatic Service claimed that the collapse of the post-World War Two global order, the rise of China, and Putin‘s aggression were putting us on a deadly path to chaos. GettyWorld peace is more at risk than at any time since the end of WW2, a Brit diplomat has warned[/caption] ROGER HARRIS PHOTOGRAPHYThe government’s former National Security Adviser Sir Peter Ricketts[/caption] AlamyIn recent weeks, Putin has upped threats to use nuclear weapons[/caption] Speaking at the Gresham College Peter Nailor Memorial lecture at Mercer’s Hall in the City of London, Britain‘s former Ambassador to France sounded a dire note about the state of global relations between East and West, as well as within Europe. And he warned of a perfect storm of crises that threaten to collapse the global order. “The international situation is more dangerous and unpredictable than at any time since the end of World War Two,” he told the gathered audience. He added that the war in Ukraine is unlikely to end any time soon. READ MORE ON RUSSIA & UKRAINE TORN OPEN Pics show blown up gas pipeline after ‘Russian blast’ triggers mini-earthquake TEXT BLAST 3 ways you’ll be told we’re at NUCLEAR WAR with Putin - & what you must do next “We are seeing the largest war in Europe since the Second World War,” he said. “We are seeing cities being smashed apart by artillery fire. “NATO is now returning to its initial purpose from 1949 – defending NATO member states’ territory.” Turning to mad tyrant Vladimir Putin’s destructive invasion of Ukraine, he said: “We were encouraged to see Putin as a master strategist. “His war has not only failed to achieve its military objectives but has undermined the reputation of his military. Most read in News NUCLEAR OPTION Fears Putin on brink of detonating nuke over Black Sea in show of force grow TEXT BLAST 3 ways you’ll be told we’re at NUCLEAR WAR with Putin - & what you must do next BUSTED Mum, 21, snared for party attack as she's identified by 'very distinctive' feature NO TRUSS Blow to Liz as half of Tories think she must resign NOW with BoJo fav to take over MID AIR HORROR Moment plane fills with smoke leaving flyers 'unable to breathe for 25 mins' THE GHOST PM Truss clings on as Tories don't know how to oust her or who replaces her “It has left NATO stronger and more purposeful than ever before, with Sweden and Finland looking to join.” In recent weeks, tensions have soared that Putin will push the nuclear button, as he looks to achieve some form of victory from the war. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace was earlier forced to dash to Washington over fears Putin will detonate a nuke over the Black Sea. A Swedish scientist recently calculated the odds of an apocalyptic nuclear world war as just six to one. On “Putin’s reckless threats of nuclear weapon use,” Sir Peter said he believes the tyrant is “doing it primarily to frighten us”. He went on: “Putin knows that Europeans haven’t heard talk of nuclear weapons for 40 years.” The international situation is more dangerous and unpredictable than at any time since the end of World War Two Sir Peter RickettsFormer National Security Adviser to the British Government But he added that any nuclear strike on Ukraine is highly unlikely, as Putin knows it would be “catastrophic” for Russia. “Using nukes in Ukraine would be an absurd risk,” he said. However, he warned that the war is unlikely to end soon, with the upcoming winter slowing the Ukrainian advance against Russian forces. “Neither side can win an outright victory,” he said. “There is no prospect President Zelensky would accept a peace settlement which signed away parts of Ukrainian territory.” AlamySir Peter also spoke out about the risk posed by China’s Xi Jinping[/caption] He warned that the war in Ukraine is likely to drag on into next springGetty He said the most likely outcome would be a Korean-style demilitarised zone (DMZ)Getty Instead, he said, the most likely option is an uneasy “Korea-style armistice,” without the signing of a peace agreement. “Both sides will accept they can’t go any further or fight any longer,” he said. “But neither side will accept that or sign a peace treaty.” North and South Korea agreed to a truce in 1954 after several years of fighting, and a demilitarised zone (DMZ) has remained in place between the two countries ever since. Sir Peter described Putin’s recent annexation of the Donbas as a “desperate attempt” by the tyrant to present some kind of victory to the Russian people. In his lecture, he also warned of the rising danger posed to the West by China. “Russia is an immediate threat to security, but China is a longer-term security risk,” he said, pointing to the country’s massive investment in its military and nuclear weapons. He called on the world to develop a “workable strategy” toward China. And, most chillingly, he warned that a “major crisis” will take place between China and Taiwan in the next 10 to 15 years. He added that Xi Jinping, who recently declared himself China’s leader for life, wants to “solve” the Taiwan question before he leaves office. 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