Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin "will die soon," renewing speculation about the 71-year-old Russian leader's health while ongoing ceasefire negotiations draw scrutiny from Kyiv and its allies.
"He will die soon, that is a fact, and everything will be over," Zelensky said during an interview in Paris, according to a translation by the Kyiv Independent. Speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, the Ukrainian leader warned Western nations against aiding Russia's exit from international isolation.
"It is very important that America does not help Putin to get out of this global isolation now," he said. "I believe that this is dangerous. This is one of the most dangerous moments."
Zelensky's remarks followed a week of fragile diplomacy and renewed military activity. On Tuesday, Russian and Ukrainian delegations met with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia and agreed to halt attacks on energy infrastructure and maintain a ceasefire in the Black Sea. However, Moscow reportedly conditioned full implementation of the Black Sea deal on the lifting of sanctions against its agricultural bank and restoration of access to the SWIFT international payment system, according to Reuters.
Zelensky accused the Kremlin of using negotiations to weaken Western resolve. "While saying it wants peace, Russia continues to strike intensely the Ukrainian territory, including civilian targets," Macron said at the joint press conference. "Russia cannot dictate conditions of lasting peace for Ukraine."
Zelensky added that Putin "fears his own society," and reiterated concerns that Russia is trying to destabilize the European Union "from within," citing Hungary's continued alignment with Moscow.
Macron pledged $2 billion in additional military support to Ukraine, saying the war has reached "a decisive phase to put an end to the war of aggression." EU leaders are set to meet in Paris on Thursday to coordinate further support for Ukraine. One topic on the agenda is the possibility of peacekeeping operations if a long-term ceasefire agreement can be reached, though the matter remains divisive among member states.
Putin has served as president of Russia since 2012, and previously from 2000 to 2008. His health has been the subject of international scrutiny since the war began.
Speculation over Putin's medical condition has reignited after recent footage showed apparent intravenous marks on his hands during a military meeting. The Kremlin has not commented on the imagery, but rumors of stroke, cancer, and degenerative neurological diseases have circulated since early 2022.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, Putin's health is a matter of open discussion internally. Kyiv has claimed Russian elites are preparing contingency plans should Putin become incapacitated. One official described the Russian president's appearance in recent months as "swollen and unstable," suggesting potential steroid use or palliative care.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian intelligence services have claimed that Putin may be using body doubles to appear at public events. Zelensky has previously alluded to such possibilities, and Russian state media has not addressed the claims.
