Russia's attack on Ukraine has increased the likelihood of World War III, according to Bill Ackman.

• Amid Russia's ongoing attack on Ukraine, billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman has stated that World War III has "probably already begun."
• Putin's aggression in Georgia and Crimea was emboldened by the West's failure to intervene, according to Ackman.
• He stated that the solution to the crisis in Ukraine lay with China.

Amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman has stated that World War III has "probably already begun."

Ackman had nightmares about a pandemic in January 2020, but people thought he was crazy. He is now experiencing similar nightmares.

In early 2020, with under 7,000 coronavirus cases confirmed in the U.S., Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square Capital, urged for a 30-day national lockdown and predicted a dire future, stating "hell is coming" in an interview with CNBC.

After his fund made more than $2 billion on bets against the markets, Ackman later defended his comments.

Ackman stated on Saturday that "WWIII has likely begun, but we have not yet recognized it," while also acknowledging that "there is much more we can do before we enter a hot war with Russia."

Ackman stated that the U.S. could put an end to the absurdity of purchasing oil from Russia and financing the war, and Europe could follow suit once the demand for gas decreases in the Spring.

On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged for an international boycott of Russian oil, while EU officials discussed proposals to end the bloc's dependence on Russian fossil fuels on Tuesday.

On Monday, both Brent crude futures and U.S. WTI oil futures reached 13-year highs, as investors weighed the possibility of a Russian oil embargo.

West has 'already provoked Putin'

Ackman stated that providing Ukraine with the West's best weaponry, intelligence, and drones would enable NATO members to aid Ukraine without deploying troops on the ground.

""The Ukrainians have shown they can win the war with the right weapons and resources, but our fear of provoking Putin is preventing us from doing more," he said."

The Ukrainians have been able to resist Russia's advances due to the weapons provided by the West, which has already provoked Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Since Russia launched its attack on Ukraine on Feb. 24, many countries worldwide have provided weapons and funding to help Ukraine defend itself. The U.S. President Joe Biden's administration has requested billions of dollars in funding from Congress for Ukraine.

Ackman argued that NATO's hesitation to intervene because of Russia's nuclear threat was a suboptimal strategic decision.

"When Putin seeks more, what do we do?" Ackman inquired. "The nuclear threat remains the same regardless of whether the next country he takes is part of NATO or not, and by then our strategic position will have worsened."

Russia's nuclear deterrence forces were put on high alert last week by Putin, who stated it was a defensive response to Western condemnation of his invasion of Ukraine and threatened that any country attempting to interfere would face unprecedented consequences.

During Russia's previous invasion campaigns, Putin's aspirations grew because "we did nothing to stop him," Ackman said Saturday.

In 2008, Russian forces invaded Georgia, resulting in a "remarkably muted" international response and giving Moscow an informal invitation for further aggression. In 2014, Russia invaded and annexed Crimea, a peninsula in southern Ukraine.

Putin's global aspirations are still in their early stages, according to Ackman.

"He is becoming more confident with each 'victory,' but we are failing the test each time, according to Ackman."

The leaders of the United States, NATO, and the United Kingdom have all stated that deploying troops or establishing a no-fly zone over Ukraine would only intensify the conflict and cause more harm to innocent people.

Biden has stated that the U.S. and its allies will defend the "every inch of territory" of NATO countries with the "full force" of their collective power.

Doesn't setting a hard line based solely on NATO membership give Putin the freedom to invade and subjugate Sweden, Finland, Cyprus, Ireland, Austria, Malta, and Switzerland, as well as the rest of the former Soviet Union, according to Ackman's query on Saturday?

China's role

To prevent Russia from attacking more countries, Ackman suggested that the West should use all available economic sanctions and provide Ukraine with all the weapons it needs for self-defense, as he believed the conflict in Ukraine would only worsen.

If sanctions did not influence Putin's behavior, Ackman suggested that NATO should reevaluate implementing a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

In the end, Ackman believed that the solution to the crisis in Ukraine lay with China.

"The only hope for an end to this war is for China to negotiate a genuine ceasefire and settlement," he stated. "In the agreement, Ukraine could concur to never join NATO. Russia could withdraw, and the sanctions could be lifted."

"China can elevate itself on the world stage by helping to resolve this crisis," Ackman said. "Putin respects and likely fears China," he added. "Time is running short before many more 18-month-old children die."

Beijing, an economic and strategic ally of Moscow, has not imposed any sanctions on Russia or, at least initially, categorized its attack on Ukraine as an invasion. However, Beijing has called for diplomacy and an end to the hostilities in Ukraine.

On Monday, Stephen Roach, an economist, stated on CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia" that China holds the key to a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.

Roach stated that he believes there is only one individual in the world who holds influence over Vladimir Putin, and that person is [Chinese President] Xi Jinping.

The tweet by Ackman was updated with the correct date.