ARE the US and Russia on the brink of a nuclear war? It appears so.
Recent statements emanating from Moscow and Washington point to the possibility that these nuclear-armed superpowers might ignite such a catastrophic conflict that can destroy the world along with the human race.
The fate of the world seems to be hanging by a thread – all because the arch adversaries are squabbling over the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The war of words erupted when former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev issued a veiled threat to US President Donald Trump that Russia possesses “… nuclear strike capabilities” that could be used (against the US) as a last resort.
This grim warning was in response to US threat to hit Russia with punitive tariffs if the Kremlin continues to prolong the Ukraine war.
Medvedev considers the US threat as pushing the two countries a “step closer to war”.
And Trump regards Medvedev’s hostile, provocative stand as tantamount to endangering American lives so much so that he promptly ordered two nuclear submarines to be stationed in “the appropriate regions” presumably to strike at Russian targets should hostilities break out.
PMX mediates Trump-Putin
Now, the world is watching tremulously as the two giants inch perilously close to open warfare given that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not keen to end the Ukraine war on Trump’s terms.
Trump has so far failed to get Putin to smoke the peace pipe simply because Russia will not listen to anybody in its relentless, brutal campaign to bring Ukraine to its knees or erase its statehood.
But the world cannot stand idly by while Russia and America are preparing to strike at each other if the Eastern European war spirals out of control.
Perhaps, Malaysia can do its bit to nudge the two antagonists to the negotiating table. For starters, when Trump visits Malaysia this October to attend the 47th ASEAN Summit, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim can broach the subject as a matter of utmost importance.
As ASEAN chairman, Anwar can leverage his position to speak on behalf of the 10-member states on the compelling need to stop the Ukraine war and avert a nuclear holocaust.
With some experience at diplomacy gained from settling the Thailand-Cambodia border war, Anwar can play the role of a peace-broker, no matter how small is his contribution.
Perhaps, in his speech welcoming one of the world’s most powerful leaders, the PMX could devote a large portion of his address to this remote battlefield that may be out of earshot of ASEAN but disturbingly enough to send chills down the spine of the world.
KL hosting superpower summit?
Of course, he cannot side Washington because Big Brother Putin will certainly be watching from the sideline. Malaysia cannot afford to antagonise another dominant power player who holds the other key to world peace or world war.
In the end, Anwar can only make a fervent pitch for sanity to prevail. The heedless rush to war will benefit nobody because there are no winners.
If a global war flares up, everything will go up in smoke – business, tariffs, countries – and nothing will be left except for a barren, toasted earth.
Perhaps, Trump might listen to PMX and convey his willingness to meet Putin, and the unthinkable might happen – a superpower summit in Kuala Lumpur, also involving Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.
And a deal might be signed to silence the guns of the two warring combatants and put the brakes on the slide to World War Three.
All this historic event will be witnessed by all the ASEAN leaders representing a combined population of more than 670 million people.
However, this could be just wishful thinking. Putin is unlikely to give in to Trump’s ultimatum – settle the war or face trade sanctions – because Russia is too powerful a nation to settle for anything less than total military victory.
Probably, all Anwar can look forward to at the ASEAN Summit is Trump shaking his hand, that is, if a world war doesn’t break out even before the American president can set foot on Malaysian soil. – Aug 5, 2025
Phlip Rodrigues is a retired journalist.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main image credit: Channel 4
