What happened
Tensions between Russia, NATO, and Iran have escalated, bringing the world closer to a catastrophic conflict. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that Germany is preparing for major hybrid attacks and will respond swiftly and clearly to any future attacks blamed on Russia.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin stated that if Russia is attacked, they will have to respond, and a war with Europe could easily escalate to a point of no return, potentially involving the use of nuclear weapons. Putin mentioned that if NATO attempts to isolate Kaliningrad, a Russian territory between Poland and Lithuania, Russia could resort to using nuclear weapons.
Meanwhile, Russia has continued to bomb Ukraine's energy grid, causing power outages and killing seven people. In the United States, President Trump suggested that a terrorist who attempted to hijack a plane headed to Tel Aviv may have links to Iran, and threatened to hit Iran very hard if the link is confirmed.
Trump also stated that Iran will either sign a fair deal or won't exist any longer, which has been interpreted as a threat to annihilate the country. The Iranians have indicated that they are prepared to fight a doomsday war with the United States, raising concerns about the potential use of unknown weapons.
