Objectives:
Objective: An analysis of the nomenclature of war regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Methods:
Methods: The research methods include a historical analysis of the naming of wars, specifically the term “World War III,” and documentation of the current political and military situation.

Results:
Results: The article answers three research questions: 1) How and why are wars named? 2) What is meant by the phrase “World War III”? 3) Is the Russo-Ukrainian War of 2022 a global conflict? 4) What are the ramifications of the conflict in terms of human rights (genocide) and the international system (political and economic)? Conclusions: The Russo-Ukrainian War of 2022 is not a regional act of aggression by a Russian belligerent state, but the escalation of imperialist aspirations into a global and genocidal conflict. This is a renewed Cold War that ought to be framed as World War III both in regards to collective numeration as well as a recognition of the global nature and potential regarding the use of tactical nuclear weapons.

Conclusions:
The Russo-Ukraine War of 2022 is a war between the international system and rogue states, between democracy and autocracy, and between humanity and genocide. Russia is the belligerent and the enemy of internationalism. There is responsibility in the naming of history and, whether Putin cowardly authorizes the use of tactical nuclear weapons or not, this is World War III.