(CNN)
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky told CNN on Friday that “all countries in the world” must be prepared for the possibility of Russian President Vladimir Putin using tactical nuclear weapons in his war against Ukraine.
Zelensky told CNN’s Jake Tapper in an exclusive interview with the president’s office in Kyiv on Friday that Putin could turn to nuclear or chemical weapons because he did not value the lives of Ukraine’s people.
“Not just me – the whole world, all countries have to worry because it may not be real information, but it may be true,” Zelensky said in English.
“Chemical weapons, they have to do it, they can do it, for them people’s lives, nothing. That’s why, “Zelenski said. “We have to think that we are not afraid, we are not afraid, we are ready. But this is not a question of Ukraine, not only of Ukraine, but of the whole world, I think.”
Zelensky remains in Ukraine during the 50-day war with Russia, as Ukrainian forces opposed the Kremlin’s attempts to take Kyiv and forced Russia to redirect its military efforts to the country’s eastern and southern regions, where Ukraine expects a significant escalation of fighting. in the next few days.
One of Russia’s most important warships sank in the Black Sea this week, which Ukraine said was the result of a missile strike, while Russia said it was due to a fire detonation of ammunition.
At the same time, Russia is launching cruise missiles on the outskirts of Kyiv and still retains the ability to target the Ukrainian capital with long-range weapons.
U.S. officials have warned of the possibility that Putin, if wrapped up in a corner, could turn to the use of tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine. CIA Director Bill Burns said on Thursday that the CIA was “very closely” monitoring the possibility, while stressing that the United States had not yet seen any signs that Russia was preparing to take such a step.
“Given the potential desperation of President Putin and the Russian leadership, given the military failures they have faced so far, none of us can take lightly the threat of a potential resort to tactical nuclear weapons or small arms weapons. extraction, “he said in a public statement at Georgia Tech.
Watch a video from the interview here.
You can see more of The Lead’s interview at 16:00 ET, and the full interview will take place on Sunday at 9:00 ET on State of the Union.
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