Putin’s closest media ally warns about coming world war

One of Vladimir Putin’s closest allies in Russian media warned of a coming world war he claims will be fought between the West and Muslim nations supported by Russian arms and weapons. Here’s what was said and why it matters.

Vladimir Solovyov is believed to be one of the “most influential propagandists in Russia” according to Politico and has been the host of the popular television show “Evening with Vladimir Solovyov” on the Russia-1 channel since 2012. 

The U.S. The State Department reported Solovyov was once a fierce critic of the Kremlin but has become one the greatest uncritical supporters of President Putin and often uses his platform to spread both propaganda and disinformation.

With that in mind, it would make sense that during one of Solovyov’s latest episodes, he spent time railing against the U.S. for sending Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to Ukraine, calling on Russia to supply America’s enemies. 

Solovyov’s remarks were translated on YouTube by Russian Media Monitor, which is an independent project dedicated to monitoring Russian media and propaganda, and were reported on by Newsweek. Here’s what Solovyov said. 

"They delivered ATACMS. We should deliver everything America's enemies need," the Russian media figure remarked. "To all of them! Any weapons that they need!” Solovyov continued before adding in his distinct theatrical flare. 

"To make sure there is not one spot on this Earth where soil doesn't burn under the feet of these neo-colonialist critters,” Solovyov said. It may sound hyperbolic but Solovyov's commentary is typical of what can be heard on his show.

The Russian propagandists went on to say that if the United States was supplying arms to Russia’s enemies to kill Russian people then the government would be providing weapons to North Korea, Syria, and anyone else that wanted them.

Soloyvov said that Russia should give America’s enemies “everything” so that not one American soldier would feel safe while on foreign territory. Then he went on to declare to his audience that a new world war was coming. 

"Do you even understand what will happen if a global jihad will start?" Solovyov stated, with Newsweek reporting that he went on to claim that nobody could grasp the reality of what could happen if a religious war were called, all of which would be the West’s fault. 

Solovyov made his comments in the immediate aftermath of the bombing at the al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, and his remarks were a good example of how the presenter uses world events to shape a Russian narrative that fits within the Kremlin’s messaging. 

However, there is a real possibility the conflict unfolding in the Middle East could result in a large regional war, something that the former Russian President and current Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev commented on. 

“The Middle East is seeing another war. A cruel war without rules. A war based on terror and the doctrine of disproportionate use of force against the civilian population. As it is said today, both sides have gone 'berserk,'" Medvedev told Russia’s Izvestia. 

“This conflict has all the chances to grow into a full-scale regional war. Or even into a global war if the situation develops in a bad way," Medvedev added according to The Russian News Agency (TASS), which translated his remarks. 

While Medvedev could be relaying more Russian propaganda, the chances of a larger war flaring in the Middle East is something Western officials are taking seriously and CNN has reported the U.S. is attempting to head off that possibility. 

The current fear is that if Israel enters Gaza then Hezbollah will enter the conflict. If that happens, Israel will counterattack Hezbollah in Lebanon and this would likely draw Iran into the ground war. What happens next is anyone’s guess. But it wouldn’t be good. 

The possibility of a wider conflict in the Middle East is at an all-time high. But if a conflict does break out it will not be the fault of the West as Solovyov claimed. But the presenter and his comments do indicate that Russia may be priming its population for the possibility.