"To avoid World War III," he replied to a question from journalists about why Washington opposes Kyiv's strikes on Russian territory.

According to RIA Novosti, Kirby also expressed hope for a common understanding that the conflict in Ukraine has already escalated.

On May 12, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said that Russia's opponents were leading to a third world war.

He recalled that there can be no winners in the third world war by definition.

Assistant to the President of the United States for National Security Jake Sullivan said that the United States, by providing military assistance to Ukraine, is trying to avoid the outbreak of a third world war.