It’s fair to say that humanity is living through a time of uncertainty. The rising tensions between countries has led many to believe that WWIII is around the corner.

And it’s not just ordinary humans who fear this scenario, but world leaders, former and current, too.

Dmitry Medvedev, the former president of Russia, said World War III “will undoubtedly begin “if [President Donald] Trump continues his insane course of criminally changing political regimes.”

“And any event could be the trigger. Any event,” Medvedev, who served as Russia’s president from 2008 to 2012 and prime minister from 2012 to 2020, warned.

During an interview with Russian media on March 3, the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council argued that “Trump made a grave mistake” by launching a large-scale attack on Iran, calling the country “an ancient civilization” that understands “how to wait,” according to The Express Tribune.

“With his decision, he put all Americans under potential threat,” he said, describing the move as “a war by the US and its allies to preserve global dominance.”

The comments followed after The United States of America and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, killing the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“Now he is also a martyr. You can imagine the rest. And now there is no doubt that Iran will pursue the creation of nuclear weapons with redoubled energy,” Medvedev said.

According to President Donald Trump, the attack served the purpose of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapon.

Iran didn’t stay silent. In response, they launched missiles and drones across the region, striking US assets and allied nations including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates.

With the global stability getting shaky, governments are calling on citizens to think ahead. They are not trying to cause panic, but to ensure that in case of conflict or disaster, households can be self-sufficient for a while.

We saw a clear example of this last year when the European Commission advised that households across the European Union have a 72-hour kit. This means stocking up on essentials such as water, food, and meds, along with items such as flashlights, batteries, and important paperwork.

These guidelines are a key piece of the Preparedness Union Strategy, a wide-reaching plan to toughen up the EU’s crisis response. Whether it’s a sudden cyber-outage or a natural disaster, the goal is for people and governments to pivot quickly. By making sure households are self-sufficient for a short window, authorities can focus on the heavy lifting—like repairing infrastructure and coordinating large-scale relief—without the immediate system-wide panic.

According to leaders, this is part of what they refer to as “culture of preparedness,” where knowing what to do in cases of emergency becomes second nature. Since the first three days following a disaster are most chaotic, being able to look after yourself during that period allows governments to get organized and reach the hardest-hit areas first without letting the entire system to collapse.

According to EuroNews, this plan also pushes to better teamwork across EU borders. By improving coordination between member states and beefing up early-warning tech, the EU is trying to stay ahead of the curve. Leaders say that if COVID19 taught us something is that crisis rarely happen one at a time, so we need a system that would allow us to juggle multiple crisis simultaneously.

“In the EU we must think different because the threats are different, we must think bigger because the threats are bigger too,” Hadja Lahbib, the Commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis management, told reporters.

Roxana Mînzatu, the Commission for preparedness, speaking alongside her, added that the bloc is “not starting from scratch.”

Further, Lahbib posted on X, “Ready for anything – this must be our new European way of life.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also emphasized the importance of stronger preparedness measures.

“New realities require a new level of preparedness in Europe. Our citizens, our Member States, and our businesses need the right tools to act both to prevent crises and to react swiftly when a disaster hits,” von der Layen said in a statement.

While officials state that these guidelines weren’t issued in response to the crisis at the Middle East, they are relevant during times when global tensions rise.

According to an emergency preparedness plan by the Committee on Security and Defence drafted Feb. 25, 2026, large-scale crises – including armed aggression – could lead to “shortages and supply chain disruptions.”

The document states: “The Union should be prepared for large-scale, cross-sectoral incidents and crises, including the potential for armed aggression affecting one or more Member States.”

The plan continues, “In the event of armed aggression and hybrid warfare, military forces would need civilian assistance, including to ensure the continuous functioning of the state and society.”

In the video she posted on X, Lahbib highlighted some of the must-haves for a home emergency kit. Basically, she pointed to the items you need in order to survive on your own for several days in case emergency can’t reach to you right away in times of crisis.

While the emergency preparedness list can vary depending on the location, most include the same core essentials designed to provide food, water, safety, and communication.

Experts recommend stockpiling the following:

• ID in waterproof casing
• Canned food and energy bars
• Bottled water
• Matches
• First-aid kit
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Swiss army knife
• Cash
• Playing cards
• Medication

These emergency supplies are meant to help households stay safe and self-sufficient during the initial phase of a crisis, when access to essential services such electricity, transport, or grocery stores may be disrupted. These items can help families cope independently while governments try to restore normal conditions.

While global tensions have people on edge about possible political conflicts, experts and leaders are quick to point out that being prepared shouldn’t be misunderstood as panicking. The goal isn’t to spread fear, but to build common-sense habits that would allow communities hdle a curveball without spiraling.

Keeping a stash of water, non-perishable food, meds, and batteries just ensures your family stays safe and comfortable during those first confusing hours of a blackout or emergency.

The hope is that households will never have to use these emergency kits, but having it means that if a disaster does strike, you will be ready to handle it calmly and won’t be caught off guard.

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