The annexation of Ukrainian territory by Russia might trigger other territorial interstate conflicts

Since Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, there has been a lingering risk that the conflict may spread beyond Ukrainian borders. It does not only mean that Russia may initiate a second wave of interstate conflict; it also means that other states, especially those with unresolved territorial disputes, might do so. In an October 2022 interview with the German state television (ZDF), President Zelenskyy forecast a new trend.  He said, if the international community fails to stop the annexation of Ukraine, it will set off a worldwide wave of new territorial changes. One of the most terrifying aspects of his prediction is not just that territorial occupation might become the new benchmark in the international system, but also that conflicting parties with unresolved territorial disputes possess nuclear weapons.