As the war in Ukraine raises concerns of escalation, some have pushed for a negotiated end to the conflict.

But if "World War III" breaks out, the world has one man to blame, according to Ted Cruz: Joe Biden.

Speaking on his podcast, Senator Cruz (R-Tx.) blamed Biden for provoking Russia's invasion through "appeasement."

Biden's war?

Cruz cited several incidents where he said Biden demonstrated weakness, including his initial failure to block Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline and his delayed reaction in shooting down a Chinese spy balloon that traversed the continental United States.

Biden doesn't understand that "weakness is provocative," Cruz said.

"You want to stay out of World War III?" Cruz said. "Don’t elect a spineless jellyfish like Joe Biden to be president, because our enemies view him as so weak that he sits there for eight days while a Chinese spy balloon conducts espionage on the United States and he does nothing."

Want to stay out of World War III?

Don't elect a spineless jellyfish like Joe Biden to be president. #Verdict https://t.co/FwRLS3GYPA pic.twitter.com/061dajfy22

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) February 23, 2023

"Made for TV"

Cruz suggested that Biden faked air raid sirens during a highly publicized photo-op in Kiev with President Zelensky -- saying the incident is evidence of Biden's focus on crafting propaganda over defending America's interests.

"It’s made for TV -- look how tough I am," Cruz said.

Biden marked the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion with a triumphant swing through Ukraine and Poland last week, where he doubled down on the West's commitment to aiding Ukraine for "as long as it takes."

Putin has also refused to budge, framing the conflict as a struggle for Russia's survival.

Escalating conflict

While Cruz isn't the only Republican to cite concern with a world war, others have gone further in calling for an end to the conflict before it escalates further.

Few have been more vocal in that regard than former President Trump, who has claimed he could quickly negotiate an end to the "crazy" war.

Trump has also said the war would never have happened if he were still president -- and that Biden emboldened Russia to invade when he suggested the U.S. would not stop a "minor incursion" into Ukraine.

"I think we helped lead Russia into that war by saying, well, if they took a small part of the country that would be okay. Such a tragic waste of human life," Trump said recently.