Putin’s actions are “leading to a third world war” – Zelensky

The head of the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin, "is now in the same league as cancer, HIV, and COVID." The steps he is taking now are inevitably leading to World War III.

Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky, stated this in an interview with CBS.

"Putin is now in the same league as cancer, HIV, and COVID. If the people of Russia don't realize that the consequences of Putin's actions will be on their shoulders and their conscience, then the world needs to come together and make it clear," Zelensky says.

According to the president, Russia has powerful neighbors – mighty countries worldwide.

"I am not talking about multi-million nations [Russia's neighbors – ed]; there are billion nations that should simply tell him that your steps [Putin – ed.] are steps leading to the third world war and only you – one person, one disease – will be to blame for the third world war," Ukraine's president notes.

Zelensky stressed that war takes lives, although it is "not a natural disaster," "it is not some kind of challenge, it is man-made."

"It is Putin's hands that created a tragedy in the world that takes the lives of peaceful people. This is what the countries of the world should pay attention to. This is the most important thing. Battle against insurmountable odds, contemplate, and collaborate with the minds of ingenious and gifted people across the globe when tackling a daunting task, even in desperate circumstances where the future of our planet hangs in the balance and in instances where life is cut short. Beat HIV, beat cancer, beat COVID, beat what is really a tragedy. But sorry, where is COVID, and where is Putin," he added.

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Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that after the full-scale invasion, "Putin is nobody" for him, and he is not ready to talk to a "maniac."

"Everyone was ready to accept that the war's end should be out of respect for our sovereignty, but still in the format of diplomacy. And then we went to Bucha and found mass graves. Who is ready to talk to this maniac?" – he said.

According to Zelensky, Putin is doing the same thing as Hitler.

"The ways of capturing Ukraine were the same as those of Nazi Germany. He did everything the same, only he did not take Kyiv," Zelensky said to the African media in July.

Volodymyr Zelensky also says he is emotionally ready for a long war and believes now is a "bad time" for negotiations with the aggressor country.

It should be noted that in March of this year, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. According to the court's decision, Putin must be arrested in 123 countries that have ratified the Rome Statute or recognized the jurisdiction of the ICC.