U.S. President Barack Obama’s dangerous policies of nuclear escalation towards Russia have determined the founder of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War to exclaim that the leader has lost his credibility.

Dr Helen Caldicott, an Australian physician named by the Smithsonian Institute one of the most influential women of the 20th century, told Sputnik that to her “Obama has lost total credibility” because he is “setting up the Russians to be provoked.” The peace activist said the tension between the United States and Russia over the Ukraine conflict is alarming and opined that “we are dangerously close to having a world war start, even accidentally.”

Dr Helen Caldicott

Australian physician, author and anti-nuclear advocate Dr. Helen Mary Caldicott.

Dr Caldicott’s comments came after the G7 meeting in Krun, Germany on June 7, during which President Obama discussed with British Prime Minister David Cameron the possible deployment of new U.S. cruise missiles in the U.K. The founder of IPPNW told the publication she feared the U.S.’ irrational recklessness could escalate into a crisis which could “threaten all life on the planet.”

Dr Caldicott added that the deployment of cruise missiles in the United Kingdom “would violate the 1987 Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty” and judged that such a move would be “dangerous” on Obama and Cameron’s part. British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond told the BBC that there were “worrying signs” over the Russian military’s hostile actions and, even though there was “no clear sign” that Russia was planning to attack Ukraine, he opined that Vladimir Putin was “keeping his options open.” Mr Hammond explained that the U.K. and the U.S. “would look at all the pros and the cons,” because they do not want to make “unnecessary provocations.”

However, if the U.K. decides to host U.S. missiles, it would be a premiere, since U.S. cruise missiles have not been based in Europe since the end of the Cold War.

President Obama

U.S. President Barack Obama.

Moscow was not present at the G7 summit in Germany, but this does not mean Russia is now politically isolated. On the contrary, says German newspaper die Zeit. Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want to “stand next to his Western colleagues” anymore and has become disillusioned with both Europe and the United States due to their indecisive policies and hypocrisy.

However, Russia’s relation with other European leaders and with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization remains good. The country also maintains fruitful cooperation with Asian countries, which may be the reason why the United States is instigating a military standoff off Russian and Chinese borders.

According to Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia, Washington is committed to blocking the rise of Russia and China. The article’s tone echoes U.S. economist and columnist Paul Craig Roberts’ views. Roberts, who also served as an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan Administration judged that the United States has created the crisis in Ukraine to restrain Russia. However, this is not the first time when the U.S. resorts to provocative practices of sending warships and aircraft on patrol within the limits of its adversary’s areas, thus generating constant tensions.

In a recent interview with Italian newspaper Il Corriere della Sera, Putin emphasized that “there is no need to fear Russia” and claimed the country he leads was “not responsible for the deterioration in relations between our country and the E.U. states.” Plus, “only an insane person can imagine that Russia would suddenly attack NATO,” the Russian leader concluded.