The looming possibility of World War III is on many people’s minds.

The concerns primarily come from political leaders who’ve been engaging in alarming rhetoric as U.S. policies shift regarding Russia, Ukraine, and the ongoing conflict involving Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah.

Recently, there have been significant adjustments to President Joe Biden’s stance on Ukraine, which has heightened discussions about the potential for another world war. Here’s why WWIII is being talked about now.

Frequent mentions by Trump and his supporters; Biden does so occasionally

During Donald Trump’s first term, both U.S. officials and political analysts expressed worries that Trump’s unpredictable nature might unintentionally lead to World War III with adversaries like Iran, China, or North Korea, especially given their nuclear capabilities.

While campaigning and since taking office, Trump and his supporters have frequently hinted at the threat of WWIII in their rhetoric.

In a recent fundraising message, Trump lamented, “It truly breaks my heart to see Crooked Joe − the weakest and most incompetent president in history − ruin our country as he pushes America to the brink of World War III.”

Trump has suggested that Ukraine and Russia need to engage in peace discussions. He even claimed he could resolve the Ukraine conflict “in a day,” although he hasn’t outlined how and neither nation appears ready to negotiate.

Biden has also occasionally referenced the threat of global conflict.

“We’re trying to avoid World War III,” he stated last year in the context of the Ukraine war.

Biden gives Ukraine the go-ahead to strike within Russia using long-range missiles

Much of the recent WWIII talk stems from specific actions taken by the Biden administration. Ukrainian leaders have been asking the White House for some time to permit the use of U.S.-provided long-range ballistic missiles, referred to as ATACMS, for strikes inside Russia.

Administration officials worried that allowing Ukraine to use these weapons could deepen U.S. involvement in the war or, more alarmingly, provoke a severe Russian nuclear retaliation against Ukraine.

After Biden authorized their deployment over the weekend, Donald Trump Jr. expressed concerns on X, stating: “The Military Industrial Complex seems to want to ensure that World War 3 happens before my father can establish peace and save lives. Gotta lock in those $Trillions. Life be damned!!! Imbeciles!”

Representative Michael Waltz, a Republican from Florida and incoming national security adviser to Trump, remarked on Fox News, “This is another escalation step, and we don’t know where it will lead.”

Kremlin: the nuclear saber-rattler’s saber-rattler

Russian President Vladimir Putin seizes opportunities to make provocative remarks and take strategic actions that heighten tensions in Western capitals.

Determining the extent to which his statements are genuine threats or mere propaganda is challenging.

After Biden’s authorization for long-range missile use, Russia indicated it was revising its nuclear doctrine, coinciding with moves from Britain and France to provide Ukraine with similar arms.

Now, Russia claims it will consider aggression from any non-nuclear state, such as Ukraine, that is backed by a nuclear power like the U.S., as a joint assault on Russia.

According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, this signifies that Russia “reserves the right to employ nuclear weapons should it face aggression from conventional forces against it and/or the Republic of Belarus.”

Ukraine employed these long-range missiles on Tuesday, prompting Russia to respond with a medium-range ballistic missile strike in Ukraine the following day. This missile, described by a U.S. official as an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile, was launched by Russia.

The missile strike might have been intended to intimidate Ukraine and its backers, according to the official who requested anonymity. Nonetheless, this missile is not believed to be crucial to Russia’s military objectives. Prior to its launch, U.S. officials briefed Ukraine and allied nations to prepare them.

By Thursday, Putin was addressing the nation, stating that the conflict had taken on dimensions of a “global nature.”

There was a time when a journalist quipped: “It’s hard to believe that Vladimir Putin – known for his destructive tactics, feeling of isolation, and aspiration to reinstate Russia’s prominence – would resort to nuclear strikes in Ukraine, right?”

In response, the straightforward conclusion is that, much like various aspects of Putin’s actions, the answer remains uncertain – likely not.