Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky believes that World War III could become a reality if the US does not continue to support Ukraine, having already contributed around $70 billion to the effort.
Speaking on “60 Minutes” on Sunday evening, Zelensky compared Russian President Vladimir Putin to Adolf Hitler.
‘The whole world [has to] Decide whether we want to stop Putin or whether we want to trigger the start of a world war. We cannot change Putin. Russian society has [lost] “The respect of the world,” said Zelensky.
“They elected him and re-elected him and raised up a second Hitler.” They did that. We can’t go back in time. But we can stop it here.’
Zelensky is expected at the White House and Capitol this week as he visits the US during the United Nations General Assembly.
The Ukrainian president made a wartime visit to Washington in December 2022 and gave an impassioned address to a joint session of Congress.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he believes World War III could become a reality if the US does not maintain its support for Ukraine
Zelensky will visit the White House and the Capitol this week during his visit to the United States for the United Nations General Assembly. He is pictured there in December
At the time, it was his first known trip outside his country since the Russian invasion in February 2022.
He is expected to work to ensure the United States continues to support his war-torn country.
“We defend the values of the whole world.” And it is the Ukrainians who are paying the highest price. We really fight for our freedom, we die. We are not fiction, we are not a book. “We are seriously fighting a nuclear state that threatens to destroy the world,” Zelensky told CBS News.
“If Ukraine falls, what will happen in ten years?” Just think about it. If [the Russians] Reach Poland, what’s next? A Third World War?’ he asked.
![“If Ukraine falls, what will happen in ten years?” Just think about it. If [the Russians] Reach Poland, what's next? A Third World War?' Zelensky asked.](https://www.spamchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1695007460_352_Zelensky-says-Putin-could-trigger-World-War-III-if-the.jpg "Zelensky says Putin could trigger World War III if the US doesn't continue to support Ukraine after already pumping $70 billion into the country 5")
“If Ukraine falls, what will happen in ten years?” Just think about it. If [the Russians] Reach Poland, what’s next? A Third World War?’ Zelensky asked.
The United States has already contributed about $70 billion, and Congress is now divided over whether to provide additional funding for the war effort. Joe Biden walks with Zelensky last December
This time, however, Congress is increasingly divided over providing additional funding to Ukraine as the war enters its second year.
Biden has requested a package of $13.1 billion in additional military aid to Ukraine and $8.5 billion in humanitarian aid. This also includes $2.3 billion in financing and donor support from the World Bank.
But conservative Republican lawmakers are pushing for sweeping cuts to federal spending, and some of those allied with Donald Trump, the former president, are specifically seeking to stop funds going to Ukraine.
Given the $70 billion the U.S. has already sent to Ukraine, Zelensky was asked whether he expected that level of support to continue.
‘The United States of America [is] “I support Ukraine financially and I am grateful for that,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky noted that he did not receive military assistance quickly enough, but is grateful for President Biden’s support.
Zelensky compared Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) to Adolf Hitler. Putin is seen meeting North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un (left) last week
Hitler can be seen with his bodyguards at a Nazi Party meeting in Bad Harzburg in 1931
“I just think they don’t just support Ukraine.” If Ukraine falls, Putin will certainly go further. What will the US do if Putin reaches the Baltics? When he reaches the Polish border? He will. That’s a lot of money. We are very thankful. What more does Ukraine need to do so that everyone can appreciate our deep gratitude? We are dying in this war.’
When asked how much more money Ukraine still needs, Zelensky was unable to give a specific number.
“I don’t have an answer to that,” Zelensky said, noting that Putin would continue to threaten the possibility of nuclear war that would fuel instability in the United States and Europe.
“I think he will continue to threaten,” Zelensky said. “He is waiting for the US to become less stable.” He believes that will happen during the US elections. He will watch for instability in Europe and the United States of America. He will use the risk of using nuclear weapons to fuel this [instability]. He will continue to threaten.’
During the interview on Sunday evening, Zelensky admitted that there had been slow progress in the Ukrainian counteroffensive, but stressed that troops were advancing steadily and about 40,000 shells were being fired by Ukrainian troops per day.
“It’s a difficult situation.” I’ll be completely honest with you. We have the initiative. That’s a plus. We stopped the Russian offensive and launched a counteroffensive. And yet it’s not very fast. It is important that we move forward and liberate areas every day.
“We must liberate our territory as much as possible and move forward, even if it is less [half a mile or] one hundred [yards] “We have to do it,” Zelensky continued. “We can’t give Putin a break.”
Zelensky was asked what he thought Putin wanted to achieve by killing civilians in the country.
‘Break [us]. And by choosing civilian targets, Putin wanted to achieve exactly that – a breakthrough [us]. This person who has prevailed with such bloody acts, with everything he has said, cannot be trusted. “There is no trust in such a person because he has not been human for a long time,” Zelensky said.