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

Want your article or story on our site? Contact us here

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.

Current Most Read

AI Video, Copyright, and the Turning Point No One Wanted to Talk About

Measles Is Rising Again: What Is Happening in London and Around the World

Directories that will help boost your SEO

Brett Riley-Tomlinson
Mar 13, 2024
3 min read

Wonder blocks on the edge of a table, spelling out the word SEO

I’ve talked about localised SEO in other articles, and how it’s becoming more and more vital to businesses. As an increasing number of people switch their buying habits from in-store to online, your business must appear exactly where your target market is looking.

One of the ways to do this is through directories, and more specifically, through NAC:

Name
Address
Correspondence

To boost your localised SEO you need to have the correct citation and, more importantly, have the directories point back to your website. As a company we’ve recently researched more than 50 of the top directories in the UK - here’s our list of 29 directories that you can add your details to for free.

Before you begin to add your details to these directories you need to apply keyword research to discover the most appropriate description and keywords to use in your listing.

Description: This will be what people will read that will ultimately encourage them to get in touch with you for the product or service they require. For example, here’s a basic description that we wrote for the marketing side of our business, Novus Marketing Solutions LTD:

Novus Marketing Solutions LTD is a multi-award-winning content creation company, based in Doncaster. Specialising in branding, website design, SEO, social media advertising and videos, we make sure your product/service is seen by your target market on the most effective platform. Check out our website www.novusmarketingsolutions.co.uk or give us a ring to see how we can take your business to the next level.

This is a basic description that contains the keywords we want to be found for. Some directories ask for a short bio, others allow you to have descriptions as long as you want; that said, remember that your prospective customers will be reading these, so make sure you’re to the point. Encourage people to get in touch with you - your listing will be next to your competitors’ and people can be put off by too many words.

As well as a description, directories often ask you for:

Pictures of your business (e.g. your logo)
Videos
Services and products you offer
Business Name
Address
Company size
Email
Social media links
Phone number
Keywords you want to be found for

It’s a good idea to write these into a Word document so that you can simply copy and paste the information. It will save you a lot of time re-writing the same details.

Here’s our list of the 29 online directories in which you can be featured for free (last checked 07/07/2020).

*Freemium means free for a specific period, or that the directory offers a premium version that carries additional features.

www.google.co.uk/business – Free
www.bingplaces.com – Free
www.yell.com – Freemium
www.yelp.co.uk – Free
www.thomsonlocal.com – Freemium
www.scoot.co.uk – Freemium
www.foursquare.com – Freemium
www.uklinked.co.uk – Freemium
www.freeindex.co.uk – Freemium
www.hotfrog.co.uk – Freemium
www.lacartes.com – Freemium
www.192.com – Free
www.locanto.co.uk – Freemium
www.approvedbusiness.co.uk – Freemium
www.uksmallbusinessdirectory.co.uk – Free
www.opening-times.co.uk – Free
www.yalwa.co.uk – Freemium
www.brownbook.net – Freemium
www.businessmagnet.co.uk – Free
www.opendi.co.uk – Freemium
www.thetradefinder.co.uk – Free
www.listedin.co.uk - Freemium
www.searchme4.co.uk – Free
www.pinbud.co.uk – Freemium
www.tradepages.co.uk – Freemium
www.ukbusinessdirectoryltd.co.uk – Freemium
www.business-directory-uk.co.uk – Freemium
www.uk-businesses.co.uk – Freemium
www.bizify.co.uk – Free

If you have any problems adding your company’s details to the above directory sites, get in touch with us. We admit that it’s time-consuming, but we’re more than happy to create your listings on your behalf.

Check out our website: www.novusmarketingsolutions.co.uk; alternatively, message us by email: Info@novusmarketingsolutions.co.uk or through social media.

I hope you found the above useful. Remember, SEO isn’t just a one-off project - you need to keep developing new content to make sure you keep rising the ranks. Read our other articles to find out more about SEO and how you can do it yourself.