‘Putin has already begun this war’: Zelenskyy petitions the world to help stop a ‘broad full-scale’ WWIII

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of already kicking off a third world war and calling on the global community to help stop the invasion of Ukraine. He believes that preventing Putin from occupying Ukraine right now isn’t just a win for his country, it’s a “victory for the whole world.”

According to Politico, Zelenskyy made these strong remarks in an interview, just hours before EU foreign ministers were set to discuss further sanctions against Russia in Brussels. This timing is pretty significant, coming only a day before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He’s really pushing the idea that Putin won’t just stop at Ukraine, so stopping him here is crucial for global peace.

Later in that same interview, Zelenskyy doubled down, stating his firm belief that Putin has “already begun this war.” For him, the big question now is how much territory Russia can grab and, more importantly, how to put a stop to it. He emphasized that everyone must work to prevent this conflict from escalating into a “broad full-scale third world war.” 

Years of dealing with russian aggression have made his views firm

When asked about Ukraine’s determination to reclaim all the land Russia has seized, Zelenskyy was absolutely clear. He insisted, “In any case, we will achieve that. That is absolutely clear. It is only a matter of time.” However, he also acknowledged the harsh reality that trying to do so today would mean “losing a huge number of people, millions of people,” given the size of the Russian army. 

Zelenskyy isn’t just focused on land, though. He argued that “What is land without people? Honestly, nothing,” highlighting the importance of his citizens. For him, restoring Ukraine’s 1991 borders would be “a victory for justice.” But he’s also very upfront about needing outside help to achieve this. He plainly stated, “We also do not have a sufficient amount of weapons. That depends not only on us,” really underscoring the vital role international support plays.

Meanwhile, Putin is on a different wavelength, focusing on strengthening Russia’s combat capabilities. In a video address on February 23, he urged his country to push toward full militarization. He declared that the Kremlin plans to “increase the pace of development of advanced systems for the armed forces.” 

It is a fact that Russia has broken every single ceasefire thus far. We also know that they are brokering business deals with the US rather than conducting fair peace talks. That, with Putin’s move to strengthen the army, indicates that Zelenskyy might have a point.