Has World War 3 Already Begun? Examining Zelensky’s Claim, Global Conflict Expansion and the Economic Fallout of Modern War

24 February 2026

Paul Francis

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Russia has “already started” World War 3, arguing that the conflict in Ukraine is no longer a contained regional war but part of a much wider global confrontation. The comment has triggered debate, scepticism and concern in equal measure.

Rusty, destroyed tank on a muddy street lined with bare trees. Distant construction vehicles and workers are visible under a cloudy sky.

At first glance, describing the Russia–Ukraine war as World War 3 sounds like political hyperbole. Historically, a world war involves multiple major powers formally fighting each other across multiple theatres. NATO forces are not in direct combat with Russia, and there are no formal declarations of war between global blocs. On those grounds alone, many analysts would reject the label.

However, a more serious question sits underneath the headline. Could the conflict already function globally in ways that resemble a systemic world war, even if it does not meet the classic twentieth-century definition? When you look at geopolitical involvement, proxy support and economic disruption, the picture becomes more complex.

Why Zelensky Is Framing It This Way

Zelensky’s language is not accidental. It serves both as a warning and as a strategic message to allies. He has repeatedly argued that Russia’s ambitions extend beyond Ukraine, and that failing to stop Moscow now risks broader instability in Europe and beyond.

From Kyiv’s perspective, two realities support that argument.

President Volodymyr Zelensky in black attire sits on blue chair holding papers, numbered "001," with a microphone nearby. Background shows blurred figures in suits. — Image by Le Commissaire

First, multiple external state actors are materially involved. Russia has received military equipment and support from Iran and North Korea. Iran has supplied drones that have been used extensively in strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure. North Korea has reportedly provided artillery ammunition and other military assistance. China has not directly entered the conflict, but it has maintained significant economic ties with Russia and continues to play a major role in global trade dynamics connected to the war.

Second, the consequences of the conflict are not limited to Eastern Europe. Dozens of countries are tied into the war through military aid, sanctions, intelligence sharing, or trade realignments. When nations across continents are financing, arming or economically isolating one side or the other, the conflict begins to take on a broader character.

That does not automatically make it a world war. But it does challenge the idea that this is a purely regional dispute.

A Web of Conflicts and Proxy Involvement

Modern warfare rarely resembles the declared total wars of the past. Instead, it is often fragmented, multi-layered and interconnected.

The Russia–Ukraine war sits within a wider environment of global tension. Conflicts in the Middle East, instability in parts of Africa, rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific and ongoing geopolitical rivalry between major powers create a backdrop that feels less like isolated crises and more like a shifting global fault line.

When states supply weapons, ammunition and strategic resources to opposing sides in conflicts, even indirectly, it introduces elements of proxy warfare. When sanctions regimes divide the global economy into competing blocs, economic rivalry starts to mirror political confrontation.

In that sense, Zelensky’s statement may be less about tanks crossing borders and more about the architecture of global alignment that is forming around this war.

The Global Economic Dimension

If there is one area where the argument gains measurable weight, it is economics.

The Russia–Ukraine war has had profound global economic consequences. Commodity markets were shaken early in the conflict. Energy prices surged. Agricultural exports were disrupted. Countries far from the battlefield experienced rising costs for food, fuel and raw materials.

This was not a temporary ripple. It triggered sustained inflationary pressure in many economies and forced governments and central banks to adjust policy. Energy-importing nations had to find new suppliers. Trade routes were reconfigured. Entire sectors were forced to reassess sourcing strategies.

Steel and industrial metals provide a useful example. Russia and Ukraine both play roles in global metallurgical supply chains. Disruptions to production and exports have contributed to price volatility and market uncertainty. When steel prices rise or become unstable, industries such as automotive manufacturing feel the impact. Car manufacturers depend on predictable input costs. When materials fluctuate sharply, production planning becomes more difficult, and margins are squeezed.

Molten metal is being poured into a container in a fiery, industrial setting. Bright orange and yellow sparks fill the air. — Conflicts have increased global steel prices

At the same time, defence spending has risen sharply in Europe and elsewhere. Industrial capacity is being redirected towards military production in several countries. That shift not only affects weapons manufacturers. It influences labour markets, raw material demand and public spending priorities.

Sanctions add another layer. Restrictions on Russian energy, technology and financial flows have reshaped global trade patterns. European nations have reduced reliance on Russian gas. Liquefied natural gas markets have tightened. New energy partnerships have formed. These are structural changes that may last decades.

When war reshapes global energy flows, industrial inputs, inflation rates and government budgets, its impact is not confined to the battlefield.

Is This Enough to Call It World War 3?

Under a strict historical definition, the answer is still no. Major global powers are not directly fighting one another in open warfare across multiple continents. Alliances have not formally declared war against each other.

But if the term is used to describe a systemic global confrontation that involves military, economic and geopolitical dimensions spanning continents, the argument becomes harder to dismiss outright.

The Russia–Ukraine war involves multi-national support networks, sanctions regimes that divide global markets, industrial reorientation towards defence, and economic shocks that reach households thousands of miles from the front line.

That does not make it World War 3 in the classic sense. It does suggest that modern conflict can generate world-scale consequences without traditional declarations.

Zelensky’s statement may be rhetorically charged. Yet when you examine the geopolitical alignments, proxy involvement and economic transformation underway, it becomes clear why he frames it in those terms.

Whether history will eventually classify this period as the early stage of a broader global conflict remains unknown. What is certain is that the war in Ukraine has already reshaped global politics and economics in ways that extend far beyond its borders.

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Designed to Be Replaced: How Planned Obsolescence Fuels Waste in the Digital Age

Paul Francis
Nov 12, 2025
4 min read

As the festive season approaches and millions prepare to give new phones as gifts, there is an uncomfortable truth beneath the shine of packaging and ribbon. Globally, smartphone sales continue to grow, and by late 2025, analysts expect more than 180 million new phones will be gifted worldwide over the Christmas and holiday period. The result is a surge of electronic waste, much of it tied to devices that still function perfectly well.

Pile of discarded cell phones and electronics in a landfill, under overcast skies. Scattered cables and tires create a sense of waste.

This phenomenon is closely linked to planned obsolescence, the practice of deliberately designing products to have limited lifespans so that they are replaced sooner than necessary. While technological progress drives convenience and innovation, the environmental cost of constant replacement is becoming impossible to ignore.

The Roots of Planned Obsolescence

The idea of designing for failure is not new. In the early twentieth century, companies sought ways to increase sales in an already saturated market. One of the earliest and most infamous examples came from the Phoebus Cartel, formed in the 1920s by major light bulb manufacturers such as General Electric, Osram and Philips. They agreed to limit the lifespan of light bulbs to around 1,000 hours, ensuring repeat purchases and steady demand.

In the automotive industry, General Motors took a more subtle approach. Under the leadership of Alfred P. Sloan Jr., GM introduced yearly styling updates to its vehicles, making older models look outdated even if they were mechanically sound. By the 1950s, this idea of “dynamic obsolescence” had become a core part of the car industry’s marketing strategy. Consumers were encouraged to buy a new car not because the old one had failed, but because it no longer looked fashionable.

This approach worked so well that the average ownership period of a new car in the United States fell from five years in the 1930s to around two years by the mid-1950s.

The Modern Battlefront: Electronics

Today, the same principles apply to consumer electronics. Phones, laptops, tablets and even smart appliances are updated annually with minor design or software changes. Marketing emphasises the new features while subtly implying that last year’s model is inferior.

Software updates also play a role. Older devices often stop receiving updates, making them less secure and incompatible with new apps. Hardware designs that prevent users from replacing batteries or repairing parts further shorten a product’s usable life.

The environmental impact is staggering. In 2024, the world produced around 62 million tonnes of electronic waste, a figure expected to reach 75 million tonnes by 2030, according to the United Nations Global E-waste Monitor. Only about 20 per cent of this waste is properly recycled.

When we consider that tens of millions of new phones will be purchased and gifted this Christmas, the scale of the problem becomes even clearer. Each device requires metals such as lithium, cobalt, gold and nickel, all of which come from resource-intensive mining processes that damage ecosystems and contribute to carbon emissions.

The Environmental Cost of Short-Lived Design

Planned obsolescence harms the environment at every stage of a product’s life cycle.

Manufacturing requires extraction of raw materials, water use and energy-intensive production.
Distribution and transport add carbon emissions and packaging waste.
Disposal leads to landfill waste and the release of toxic substances, including lead, mercury and cadmium.

Devices that could have been repaired or refurbished often end up discarded because it is cheaper to buy new than to fix the old. Repair restrictions and closed design systems make it even harder for consumers to extend product life.

The environmental consequences of this pattern go far beyond landfills. E-waste frequently ends up exported to developing countries, where informal recycling exposes workers to hazardous materials without proper safety equipment.

Is Planned Obsolescence a Design Flaw or a Business Strategy?

Manufacturers argue that regular product refreshes promote innovation and create jobs. They claim that shorter product cycles allow faster adoption of new technology, such as energy-efficient screens or improved processors.

However, critics point out that this cycle primarily benefits profit margins rather than the planet. Many of the annual “upgrades” in smartphones or consumer electronics are incremental rather than revolutionary. A new colour, camera mode or interface rarely justifies replacing a working device.

In effect, marketing has replaced mechanical failure as the main driver of obsolescence. Consumers are encouraged to buy the latest model not because they need it, but because they feel left behind if they do not.

The Global Response

Governments and regulators are beginning to take notice.

The European Union’s Circular Economy Action Plan now requires manufacturers to make products more durable, repairable and recyclable.
France has introduced a repairability index that scores electronics based on how easy they are to repair.
The United Kingdom has introduced Right to Repair legislation, forcing appliance manufacturers to supply spare parts for up to ten years.
In the United States, several states have passed or proposed similar laws to give consumers and independent technicians access to parts and repair manuals.

Public attitudes are also shifting. A growing number of consumers now consider environmental sustainability in purchasing decisions, especially during holiday periods. The second-hand and refurbished electronics market is thriving, and companies offering longer warranties are gaining favour.

A Sustainable Approach to the Festive Season

With Christmas around the corner, consumers can make choices that help reduce waste.

Repair instead of replace: A simple battery replacement or software refresh can extend a phone’s life by years.
Buy refurbished: Certified refurbished devices perform as well as new ones but come at a lower environmental cost.
Recycle responsibly: Use verified e-waste collection schemes rather than general waste disposal.
Support brands committed to sustainability: Some companies now design phones with modular parts that can be easily swapped or repaired.

Every small decision makes a difference when multiplied by millions of households.

Planned obsolescence may once have driven economic growth, but its environmental consequences are now undeniable. The constant cycle of buying, discarding and upgrading has created one of the fastest-growing waste streams on Earth.

As we enter another season of gifting and consumption, the challenge is clear: innovation must no longer mean replacement. It must mean resilience, repair and responsibility.

If consumers demand it and manufacturers respond, the devices under next year’s Christmas tree could tell a different story, one of sustainability instead of waste.