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Topics: Russia, Ukraine, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky, World News
Poppy Bilderbeck
Topics: Russia, Ukraine, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky, World News
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged 'all countries' to be ready for Russia's President Vladimir Putin using nuclear weaponry.
A few days in to Putin's 'special military operation' in Ukraine, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov warned a third World War would be 'nuclear and destructive'. Now, after more than 50 days of war in the country, Ukraine's President Zelenskyy has again warned nuclear weapons could be used.
Putin increased the risk of nuclear war by putting the country's nuclear deterrent forces on high alert early on in the crisis.
Zelenskyy has since called on 'all countries of the world' to prepare themselves for Putin using nuclear weapons.
Zelenskyy told CNN he believes Russia may also be readying itself to use chemical weapons.
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He said: "Not only me – all of the world, all of the countries have to be worried.
"Chemical weapons ... they could do it, for them the life of the people [is] nothing. That’s why. We should think not be afraid, not be afraid but be ready.
"But that is not a question for Ukraine, not only for Ukraine but for all the world, I think."
As Putin's 'special military operation' is not going as well as he first anticipated, director of the CIA, Bill Burns, has suggested it could lead to his use of such weapons in Ukraine. "Given the potential desperation of President Putin and the Russian leadership, given the setbacks that they've faced so far militarily, none of us can take lightly the threat posed by a potential resort to tactical nuclear weapons or low yield nuclear weapons," he said.
The use of nuclear weapons would increase the already devastating death tolls, which Zelenskyy believes stands at around 2,500 to 3,000 Ukrainian troops.
When asked about civilian deaths, he reflected that it's 'very difficult to talk about civilians'.
"Since south of our country, where the towns and cities are blocked – Kherson, Berdyansk, Mariupol further east, and the area to the east where Volnovakha is – we just don’t know how many people have died in that area that is blocked," he said.
On 14 April, one of Russia's most prized warships, the Moskva, sank in the Black Sea after it caught fire.
Without claiming responsibility, Zelenskyy reflected that Ukraine 'know[s] that it doesn't exist anymore'.
He said: "For us, it is a strong weapon against our country, so it's sinking is not a tragedy for us. I want you, the rest of the people, to realise that.
"The less weapons the Russian Federation that has attacked our country has, the better for us. The less capable they are. This is important."
Russia hasn't ruled out the use of nuclear weapons, however it previously stated it would only use them if there is 'an existential threat' to its country.
Putin also previously threatened NATO of 'consequences such as you have never seen in your entire history'.
If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information