Volodymyr Zelensky has declared Vladimir Putin “will die soon” – amid intensifying blitzes on Ukraine.
The defiant Ukrainian leader, 47, made the blunt statement as chatter about Mr Putin’s health continues to circulate. It was reported last week Mr Putin had experienced “a mini stroke” after he was seen shaking uncontrollably during a conference. Rumours of the Russian President battling cancer have also existed for years.
Mr Zelensky met Emmanuel Macron, President of France, today to talk peace, following a shaky Black Sea ceasefire brokered by the US on Tuesday. They pleaded for the US to “stay strong” in the face of Russian skulduggery – but Mr Zelensky remained determined. He said: “He [Putin] will die soon, and that’s a fact, and it will come to an end.”
Mr Zelensky added he feels Mr Putin is trying to “hit the European Union from within” – citing Hungary, which sides with Russia. However, the Ukrainian leader gave no further details about Mr Putin’s ill-health.
Devastating airstrikes on Ukraine continue despite peace talks. Mr Macron said Mr Putin has repeatedly chosen to “reinterpret” ceasefire after leaving the table. The French President added: “While saying it wants peace, Russia continues to strike intensely the Ukrainian territory, including civilian targets. Russia cannot dictate conditions of lasting peace for Ukraine.”
EU leaders will meet on Thursday and see them once again seek a consensus on how to support Ukraine in the event of a permanent ceasefire deal. One option is to deploy troops from willing EU nations to keep peace on the ground.
Mr Macron warned on this could lead EU soldiers into direct conflict with Russia. If Mr Putin violated the terms of any deal, then it would fall to Europe to police the fallout.
Mr Macron also committed to providing an additional $2bn (£1.55bn) of military support for Ukraine. It is unlike Donald Trump, who said this month he was to temporarily stop military aid to Ukraine.
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Earlier on Wednesday, Nato chief Mark Rutte warned that now is “not the time to go it alone” on security. The Black Sea ceasefire deal agreed on Tuesday reads like it was dictated by Russia, according to experts.
Military analysts told reporters that it benefits Mr Putin far more than Mr Zelensky, who is trying to salvage a permanent peace deal for his war-torn nation. After a marathon of negotiations, the White House confirmed it had got both sides to agree to halt strikes in the Black Sea region and on energy infrastructure.
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