MOSCOW, March 7. /TASS/. The continuing conflict in Ukraine may escalate to include more proxy forces in the military confrontation with Russia, or to a direct military conflict with Russia itself, or even to a full-blown war in Europe, Colonel-General Vladimir Zarudnitsky, chief of the Military Academy of the Russian General Staff, wrote in an article published in the Voennaya Mysl (Military Thought) magazine.

"How the situation may evolve is currently hard to predict, amid the rising controversy that almost always leads to the use of force. The Ukraine conflict could well escalate to include an expanded list of proxy forces being used for the military confrontation with Russia, or even to a large-scale war in Europe," the Russian general said.

Zarudnitsky cautioned against playing down military threats to domestic security. "In order to weaken our country, the United States and Western countries are making every effort to destabilize the social and political situation in Russia, using religious, ethnic or civilizational strife that may also lead to the use of force," he warned.

Against the backdrop of the current transformation of the existing world order, numerous intergovernmental associations and bilateral interstate relations have emerged, Zarudnitsky added. "Meanwhile, no major rift has happened in the world, which has led to the emergence of a large group of neutral countries seeking political and military independence (autonomy) from the United States and its allies," he said. The potential, including military, of these countries, although they represent Russia’s short-term allies, should be taken into account in planning measures for ensuring the security of our country, the general emphasized.

Certain African countries and a number of Latin American and Southeast Asian nations could be of interest in this respect, he concluded.