'Strange things happen.' Donald Trump sounds terrifying 'World War III' warning following call with Putin

President Donald Trump has warned that US troops might get dragged into Russia's war with Ukraine if tensions escalate towards a global conflict.

Speaking on Fox News on Tuesday, shortly after a 90-minute call with Vladimir Putin, Trump said: "We want to get [the war] over with... Right now, you have a lot of guns pointing at each other and a ceasefire without going a little bit further would have been tough.

"Look, we're doing this – there are no Americans involved. There could be if you end up in World War III over this, which is so ridiculous. But, you know, strange things happen."

In related developments, both Russia and Ukraine appeared to bypass the discussions for peace they promised earlier, as Russia unleashed an offensive against Ukrainian infrastructure and medical facilities shortly after Putin agreed to a 30-day pause on striking Ukrainian energy sites and structures, reports the Express.

Simultaneously, reports emerged capturing flames and thick smoke at Russia's Kavkazskaya oil facility in Krasnodar, allegedly targeted by Ukraine.

Adding a sliver of hope amidst the violence, a prisoner exchange involving 175 individuals from each side is slated for Wednesday, with the Kremlin labelling it a "gesture of goodwill". Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, maintains that the swap would have occurred regardless of Russia’s stance. Russia is also due to free 23 injured Ukrainians currently held in their medical establishments.

Putin demanded on Tuesday that Ukraine stops recruiting and training forces during a potential temporary ceasefire, The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported.

The Russian President also called for a halt to all foreign military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, but "did not discuss Russia's military support from North Korea, the People's Republic of China (PRC), and Iran".

The ISW added in its daily roundup that the Russian President "claimed that Russia and the United States should continue their efforts toward a peace settlement in 'bilateral mode', excluding Ukraine or Europe from future negotiations about the war in Ukraine".

Experts added that Vladimir Putin reiterated to Donald Trump his demands for "a resolution to the war that amount to Ukrainian capitulation".

The Russian President, the Kremlin says, emphasised the need to address the "root causes" of the war. These "amount to Russian demands for Ukraine's permanent neutrality and the installation of a pro-Russian government in Kyiv".

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