Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, has issued a warning that recent actions by Poland may lead to a direct confrontation with Russia and Belarus, potentially sparking World War III. Medvedev expressed these concerns in an article he wrote for the Russian newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

These provocative statements are not uncommon for Medvedev, who has emerged as one of the Kremlin’s most outspoken critics of Ukraine’s allies. He has repeatedly stated that Russia could attack NATO members for providing assistance to Ukraine. In December 2022, he even referred to Ukraine’s Western allies as “legitimate military targets.” More recently, in September, he declared that Russia is prepared to engage in direct conflict with NATO member states.

In his Rossiyskaya Gazeta article, Medvedev suggests that Poland’s support of Ukraine could escalate the conflict into a global war.

“Poland’s military buildup and presence in Ukraine may provoke a direct confrontation between Warsaw, Belarus, and Russia,” Medvedev wrote. “In such a case, the allied group will respond appropriately to counter the threats arising from the malicious ambitions of the Polish establishment.”

He further stated, “Poland’s reckless actions, if supported rashly by its NATO allies, could have dangerous consequences for the entire world. Poland would then fulfill the role of ‘the hyena of Europe’ that ignited World War III.”

Newsweek has reached out to the foreign ministries of Poland and Russia via email for comment.

In other parts of the article, Medvedev accused Poland of having ulterior motives for supporting Ukraine, claiming that the country’s aim is to establish control over the states between Warsaw and Moscow and ensure its dominance in the region. He also provided a brief historical overview of Russian-Polish relations and criticized the “evil ambitions” of Warsaw’s leaders, while asserting that members of the European Union hold a “poorly-concealed hatred” for Poland.

“It can be assumed that this will ultimately contribute to the destabilization of the EU structure itself, leading to a full-fledged conflict within the ‘friendly’ European family and even the collapse of the European Union, all due to Poland’s actions,” wrote the Russian official.