President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN on Friday that “all countries of the world” should be prepared for the possibility that Russian President Vladimir Putin could use strategic nuclear weapons in his war against Ukraine.
Zelensky told CNN’s Jake Tapper in an exclusive interview from the president’s office in Kyiv on Friday that Putin may turn to nuclear or chemical weapons because he doesn’t value the lives of the Ukrainian people.
Zelensky, speaking in English, said, “Not only me – the whole world, all countries have to be concerned because this may not be real information, but it may be true.”
“Chemical weapons, they should do this, they can do this, people’s lives for them, nothing. So,” Zelensky said. “We should think not to be afraid, not to be afraid but to be prepared. But that is a question not only for Ukraine, not only for Ukraine but for the whole world, I think.”
Zelensky remains in Ukraine during the 50-Day War with Russia, as Ukrainian forces resist the Kremlin’s attempt to capture Kyiv and force Russia to refocus its war efforts on the country’s eastern and southern regions. Where Ukraine is feared. A significant escalation in fighting in the coming days.
One of Russia’s most important naval battleships drowned in the black sea This week, which Ukraine described was the result of a missile attack, while Russia claimed it was due to fire triggered by the detonation of ammunition.
At the same time, Russia is firing cruise missile On the outskirts of Kyiv and still has the ability to target the Ukrainian capital with long-range weapons.
US officials have warned about the possibility that if Putin is backed into a corner, he could turn to the use of strategic nuclear weapons in Ukraine. CIA Director Bill Burns said on Thursday that the CIA is looking “very closely” at the possibility, while emphasizing that the US has yet to see any signs that Russia is preparing to take such a step.
“Given the potential frustration of President Putin and the Russian leadership, the setbacks they have faced so far, none of us can take lightly the threat posed by strategic nuclear weapons or the potential recourse to low-yield nuclear weapons. Can’t take it,” he said. Said in public remarks at Georgia Tech.
Watch the interview clip Here,
You can watch more interviews on “The Lead” at 4 p.m. ET and the full interview will air Sunday at 9 a.m. ET on “State of the Union.”