Russia could be prepping for a new "global war" an
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"This is all part of the package of measures to prepare elites to some 'big war,'" Stanislav Belkovsky, a Russia analyst, is quoted by the Daily Star as saying.
"If you want a confrontation, you'll get one. But it won't be a confrontation that doesn't harm the interests of the United States. You want a confrontation, you'll get one everywhere," said retired Russian Lt. Gen. Evgeny Buzhinsky.
"As [Russian President Vladimir] Putin sees it, it is full-scale confrontation on all fronts," Buzhinsky said.
This comes as former Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev has warned that the world is at a "dangerous point" due to rising tensions between Russia and the United States, citing a "collapse of mutual trust."
"We need to renew dialogue. Stopping it was the biggest mistake. Now we must return to the main priorities, such as nuclear disarmament, fighting terrorism and prevention of global environmental disasters," Gorbachev warned earlier this week.
Russian and American leaders have differed over policy in Syria and Ukraine, among other issues. But the rift extends to other Western powers; Putin recently canceled an upcoming trip to Paris and meeting with French President Francois Hollande. Further complicating matters, the Obama administration has accused Moscow of backing hacks meant to disrupt the U.S. election.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin steadfastly denied those allegations Wednesday.
"There's nothing there benefiting Russia," Putin told the Russia Calling conference Wednesday. "The hysteria is simply to distract the American people from the contents of what the hackers have posted."