Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a chilling warning of a possible ‘full-scale World War 3’ if Western troops enter Ukraine. This came after a reporter asked him about French President Emmanuel Macron‘s recent comments suggesting troops might be sent to Ukraine to aid the country in its war effort.

Putin responded: “I think anything is possible in today’s world and it’s clear to everyone that this would be one step from a full-scale World War III.”

This alarming comment comes after Putin, a former KGB member, was elected for a fifth six-year term, making him the longest-ruling Russian leader since Josef Stalin. His reign is expected to continue until 2030, when it is believed he will seek yet another term.

Initial exit poll results reported by Russian government-sanctioned media organisation Sputnik indicate that he received around 88 percent of the vote, with his “opponents” garnering less than three percent each, the Mirror reports.

Despite a nervous response from Berlin, the French president has doubled down on his position that NATO forces may bolster Ukrainian divisions at some point in the conflict.

Poland will be hoping Mr Macron’s rhetoric is matched with increased defence spending. On a recent trip to the United States, Polish leader Andrzej Duda called on NATO partners to spend three percent of GDP on defence, up from the two percent target. It was recently reported that France would finally meet its two percent target this year. However Poland, which spends more per GDP than any NATO state, wants France and other allies to go further.

However, not all European leaders appear to have the stomach for the fight. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently ruled out providing Ukraine with their sought-after Taurus missiles.

Mr Scholz told German lawmakers on Wednesday that was drawing a “line in the sand” by refusing to send President Zelensky the missiles.

Scholz is reported to be unwilling to arm Ukraine with the top spec weapon, over fears that devastating strikes on the Russian mainland and the Kerch Bridge connecting Crimea with Krasnodar Krai, could prompt retaliation from Moscow.

He told lawmakers: “From my point of view, this is a very long-range weapon. Given the significance of not losing control over targets, this weapon could not be used without the deployment of German soldiers.”