Watan-In a striking development and a controversial speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a shocking statement from Paris during his visit to the Élysée Palace, saying:
“Putin will die soon, and with him, his legacy will die… Bet on me, not on him!”
These remarks came during a summit of Ukraine-supporting countries attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, amid the intensifying war that has been ongoing for more than three years.
Zelensky’s visit to Paris was not just a diplomatic step—it carried sharp political messages, the most notable of which was a direct escalation against Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin leader. Zelensky’s statements were widely circulated in Western media and were seen as an unprecedented challenge to the Russian president, at a time when the Ukrainian-Russian front continues to witness sustained escalation with no clear military resolution.
Zelensky: “Putin Is Living His Final Days”
In his interviews, Zelensky affirmed that “Putin is an old man living his final days,” calling on the international community to “bet on the young and ambitious Ukraine” instead of “the old Russian empire.” These statements were met with mixed reactions—some saw them as a morale-boosting attempt and a call for more European support, while others warned that they might lead to an uncalculated escalation.
Zelensky’s political performance since the start of the war has made him a controversial figure, blending theatrical delivery with wartime rhetoric, which earned him broad Western sympathy. However, he has yet to achieve a decisive strategic breakthrough on the ground.
As for Russia, it downplayed the importance of the statements, calling them “provocative and shallow,” according to Russian media. The Kremlin merely stated that “President Putin is in good health and continues to run the country with full efficiency.”
Amid this heated scene, all eyes remain on developments on the battlefield and the political dynamics between Kyiv and Western capitals, which are trying to balance their support for Ukraine with their concerns about directly provoking the Russian bear.
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