Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy referred to as on the U.S. to proceed supporting his nation in its battle in opposition to Russia, warning {that a} potential defeat may imply the beginning of World War III.
In an interview with CBS’s “60 Minutes” broadcast Sunday, Zelenskyy mentioned he was grateful for the assist America has given his nation to date, however he famous that U.S. funding is serving a a lot higher trigger in protecting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ambitions at bay.
“If Ukraine falls, what will happen in 10 years? Just think about it,” Zelenskyy informed CBS’s Scott Pelley, in keeping with a translation supplied by the community. “If [the Russians] reach Poland, what’s next? A third world war?”
Asked if the war would potentially require an additional $70 billion — a figure approximating the total amount of support the U.S. has so far contributed to Ukraine — Zelenskyy replied: “I don’t have an answer.”
He said that would depend on whether the world is determined to defeat Putin.
“We can’t change Putin,” Zelenskyy said. “Russian society has [lost] the respect of the world. They elected him and reelected him and raised a second Hitler. They did this. We cannot go back in time. But we can stop it here.”
Zelenskyy added that he expects Putin to continue threatening to use nuclear weapons against his country as the U.S. heads into the 2024 presidential election cycle.
“He is waiting for the United States to become less stable. He thinks that’s going to happen during the U.S. election,” Zelenskyy said.
“He will use the risk of using nuclear weapons to fuel that [instability],” he added.
The Ukrainian chief is ready to journey to Washington later this week, the place he’s anticipated to go to Capitol Hill and likewise meet with President Joe Biden on the White House as a part of a visit to the U.S. for the United Nations General Assembly. His go to comes at a essential time as Biden has requested lawmakers to approve a $24 billion package deal for Kyiv — a request that hard-line Republicans, together with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, have overtly struck down.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) informed Punchbowl News on Monday that he expects to additionally meet with Zelenskyy.
Congressional lawmakers have so far greenlighted a total of $113 billion for Ukraine, including $70 billion for security and intelligence among other things, according to The New York Times.
