For Putin, people's lives are nothing, says Zelensky tells CNN 0:52
(CNN) --
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN on Friday that "every country in the world" must be prepared for the possibility that Russian President Vladimir Putin will use tactical nuclear weapons in his war against Russia. Ukraine.
Zelensky told CNN's Jake Tapper, in an exclusive interview from the president's office in Kyiv on Friday, that Putin might resort to nuclear or chemical weapons because he does not value the lives of the people of Ukraine.
"Not only me, but the whole world, all the countries have to be worried because it might not be real information, but it is truth," Zelensky said, speaking in English.
"Chemical weapons, they should, they could, for them the life of the people, [means] nothing. That's why," Zelensky said, "we should think about not being afraid, not being afraid, but about being prepared. But that doesn't It's a Ukrainian issue, it's not unique to Ukraine, but to the whole world, I think."
What kind of chemical weapons does Russia have?
4:00
Zelensky has remained in Ukraine throughout the 50-day war with Russia, as Ukrainian forces have resisted the Kremlin's attempts to take Kyiv and forced Russia to redirect its war efforts to the eastern and southern regions. of the country, where Ukraine expects a significant escalation of fighting in the coming days.
This week one of Russia's most important warships sank in the Black Sea, which Ukraine says was the result of a missile attack, while Russia claimed it was due to a fire from detonating ammunition.
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At the same time, Russia is firing cruise missiles at the outskirts of Kyiv and still maintains the ability to attack the Ukrainian capital with long-range weapons.
No short-term end in sight to Russia's war in Ukraine, officials in the West say
US officials have warned of the possibility of Putin resorting to the use of tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine, if cornered.
CIA Director Bill Burns said Thursday that the CIA is "very carefully" monitoring that possibility, while stressing that the US has yet to see any signs that Russia is preparing to take such a step.
"Given the possible desperation of President Putin and the Russian leadership, given the setbacks they have suffered so far on the military front, none of us can take lightly the threat posed by the possible use of tactical nuclear weapons or nuclear weapons. low-yield nuclear weapons," he said in public remarks at Georgia Tech.
You can watch more of the interview on 'The Lead' at 4pm ET and the full interview will air Sunday at 9am ET on 'State of the Union'.
InterviewWar in UkraineVolodymyr Zelensky