WORLD WARS DO NOT BEGIN AS WORLD WARS — THEY BECOME THEM
August 8, 2026
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has warned that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is evolving from a war of attrition into what he called a “war of destruction,” with the geography, methods and targets of the conflict continuing to expand.
His warning carries historical weight. The Second World War did not become a global conflict in a single moment. It began in Europe with Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland. Britain and France entered through their commitments to Poland, the Soviet Union invaded from the east, additional countries were attacked, alliances were activated and the fighting steadily expanded across continents.
The circumstances today are not identical, and comparisons with the Second World War must be made carefully. But the underlying warning is familiar: wars spread when an aggressor believes escalation is succeeding and when other governments become increasingly entangled through weapons, troops, territory and mutual-defense commitments.
Russia’s invasion is no longer confined to Ukraine. Iranian-designed drones are attacking Ukrainian cities. North Korean troops and ammunition have supported Russia. Belarus provides territory and infrastructure. Russian missiles and drones have crossed or approached NATO airspace, while suspected sabotage and intelligence operations have reached deeper into Europe.
Ukraine, meanwhile, is supported by countries that understand what would follow if Russian aggression were rewarded. That support is not what caused the war. Russia caused it by invading a sovereign neighbor, and Russia can end it by withdrawing its forces.
Fidan is correct that the danger of geographical expansion is growing. But preventing that expansion cannot mean leaving Ukraine too weak to defend itself. History also teaches that concessions made to an expansionist state do not necessarily satisfy it. They can convince its leadership that aggression works.
The surest way to prevent this war from spreading is to make clear that Russia cannot win it.