'Putin will die soon': Zelenskyy predicts Russian leader's death amid health rumours

Ukrainian President President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris.

Amid ongoing ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, "will die soon."

Zelenskyy made the remarks during an interview in Paris, amid growing speculation about Putin’s health.

Zelenskyy asserted, “Putin will die soon, and that’s a fact.”

Putin will die soon and then it will all be over. Thats a fact ZelenskyIf I was placing a bet on who is going to live longer, my money would be 20 to one on Putin- Alex Jones pic.twitter.com/AQI7AzNcgL Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) March 27, 2025

Zelenskyy warned that Putin is trying to “divide the European Union from within,” citing Hungary’s pro-Russia stance.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron have urged the United States to “stay strong” against Russian aggression while Vladimir Putin remains in power. The two leaders met on Wednesday to discuss peace efforts following a fragile ceasefire brokered by the US.

Despite ongoing Russian attacks, including 117 strikes on Ukraine on Tuesday night, Zelenskyy remained confident that US pressure would force Putin into an unconditional ceasefire.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that a proposed European armed force, which could be deployed in Ukraine alongside a future peace agreement, would be able to “respond” if Russia launched another attack.

Speaking after talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and ahead of a summit in Paris with around 30 nations, Macron said the proposed force could be stationed in “important towns” and other strategic locations.

“If there was again a generalised aggression against Ukrainian soil, these armies would, in fact, be under attack and then it’s our usual framework of engagement,” Macron said. “Our soldiers, when they are engaged and deployed, are there to react and respond to the decisions of the commander in chief and, if they are in a conflict situation, to respond to it.”

Alongside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Macron has been leading efforts to form a coalition of nations willing to support the deployment of European forces in Ukraine. The goal is to deter future Russian aggression while ensuring long-term stability.

Macron clarified that the forces would not be stationed on the frontlines or engage in immediate combat with Russian troops. Instead, they would act as a deterrent by securing key towns and bases. “So we are not on the frontlines, we don’t go to fight, but we are there to guarantee a lasting peace. It’s a pacifist approach,” he said. “The only ones who would, at that moment, trigger a conflict, a bellicose situation, would be the Russians if they decided again to launch an aggression.”

The summit at the Élysée Palace on Thursday will bring together 31 delegations, more than the previous meeting in February, signalling growing international support for assisting Ukraine.