Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is once again speaking out against Russia. But this time, it’s on the mortality of his country’s enemy, Russia.
This week, Zelensky predicted that Russian President Vladimir Putin will die “soon”, citing that his health is deteriorating.
Zelenskyy made the bold prediction in an interview Wednesday, when he also called on the U.S. not to bring Russia in from the global political wilderness amid ongoing peace talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
“He will die soon, that is a fact, and everything will be over,” Zelenskyy told Eurovision News in Paris, according to a partial translation of the interview by the Kyiv Independent.
Putin hopes to “remain in power until his death,” Zelenskyy said, adding that the Russian leader seeks “a direct confrontation with the West,” per the outlet.
Zelenskyy did not appear to go into detail as to why he thinks the 72-year-old Putin may be nearing the end.
Speculation has swirled in recent years about Putin’s health, with rumors of his declining well-being gaining momentum since Russia invaded Ukraine.
However, the Kremlin has been quick to shut down rumors, denying reports several times last year amid no concrete evidence backing up claims of Putin’s alleged ill health.
In October, Putin showcased what seemed to be intravenous (IV) track marks on his hands while meeting with soldiers, sparking rumors he was undergoing cancer treatment. The origin of the marks was unclear.
Rumors have also swirled about Putin suffering strokes and Parkinson’s disease.
Zelenskyy’s comments come amid delegations from Russia and Ukraine on Tuesday agreeing to a ceasefire on energy infrastructure attacks and hostilities in the Black Sea following talks with Trump administration officials in Saudi Arabia.
The Kremlin said a Black Sea ceasefire will only be implemented with the removal of Western sanctions on Russia’s Rosselkhozbank — which reportedly services agriculture firms — and when access to the international banking system is restored, according to a report by Reuters.
Putin has served as president of Russia since 2012, having previously served in the role from 2000 to 2008. The former KGB foreign intelligence officer also served as prime minister of Russia from 1999 to 2000 and again from 2008 to 2012.