Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky has just made a stunning “prediction” about his war rival, Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Ukrainian president asserted that Putin “will die soon,” insisting that his coming death “is a fact.”
However, Zelensky stopped short of revealing how Putin “will die” or why he’s so convinced that the Russian leader’s death is coming “soon.”
Zelensky made the sensational prediction in an interview on Wednesday.
The Ukrainian leader also called on the U.S. to keep Russia as a global political outsider amid ongoing peace talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
“He will die soon, that is a fact, and everything will be over,” Zelensky told Eurovision News in Paris.
His remarks were revealed in a partial translation of the interview by the Kyiv Independent.
Putin hopes to “remain in power until his death,” Zelensky said.
He continued by claiming Putin seeks to trigger “a direct confrontation with the West,” per the outlet.
Zelensky did not appear to go into detail as to why he thinks the 72-year-old Russian strongman may be nearing the end.
Speculation has swirled in recent years about Putin’s health.
Rumors of his declining well-being have been circulating since Russia invaded Ukraine.
However, the Kremlin has been quick to shut down such rumors.
Moscow denied reports several times last year about Putin’s alleged ill health.
In addition, there is no concrete evidence backing up the claims and Putin appears in good health when he’s seen in public.
Among the rumors are reports that Putin was undergoing cancer treatment.
Other claims suggest Putin was suffering from strokes and had Parkinson’s disease.
Zelensky’s comments come amid delegations from Russia and Ukraine agreeing to a ceasefire on energy infrastructure attacks and hostilities in the Black Sea.
The agreement came 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.
Rosselkhozbank reportedly services agriculture firms.
Russia argues that the ceasefire will only happen when access to the international banking system is restored, according to a report by Reuters.
During Zelensky’s interview, the Ukrainian leader pleaded with the U.S. to not cave to the Kremlin’s demands during ongoing peace and ceasefire negotiations.
The U.S. has agreed to expand Russia’s access to global markets.
“It is very important that America does not help Putin to get out of this global isolation now,” Zelensky said.
“I believe that this is dangerous.
“This is one of the most dangerous moments.”
On Thursday, Zelensky met with French President Emmanuel Macron.
They met ahead of a summit in Paris of some 30 nations about how to strengthen Kyiv’s hand and its military as it pushes for a ceasefire with Russia.
Proposals to deploy European troops in the country in tandem with any peace deal are also being discussed.
Putin has served as president of Russia since 2012.
He 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.
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