COMMENT I When Russian President Vladimir Putin recently warned the West that planet Earth is one step away from World War III if there is a direct conflict between Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato), all countries around the world must wake up.

This is no idle threat. The war in Ukraine is not going in the direction Russia wants and that is fuelling Putin's anger. He blames the West for propping up Ukraine with arms and funds and thus, hampering his march to Kyiv.

For the most part, the Ukraine conflict is treated as something of a domestic affair given that Ukraine was once part of the now-defunct Soviet Union.

However, this is a conflict that can impact the course of human life worldwide as it has the potential to turn into a broader clash of arms across international borders.

Ukraine has now become an important battleground for not only Europe but also for...