Advertisement

World War Three 'may have already started', says Zelenskyy

KYIV, UKRAINE - MARCH 16, 2022 - President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the US Congress, Kyiv, capital of Ukraine. The custom size photo is courtesy of the press service of the Office of the President of Ukraine. (Photo credit should read UKRINFORM/ Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Ukrainian presidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the US Congress from Kyiv. (Ukrinform/Future Publishing/Getty)

Ukrainian president Volodymr Zelenskyy has warned that the world could be on the brink of a global war – that may already have started.

With the Ukraine crisis now in its third week, and peace talks with Russia still ongoing, Zelenskyy has told world leaders that the conflict has put the “whole civilisation at stake”.

Nato has refused Zelenskyy’s requests to implement a no-fly zone (NFZ), with both US president Joe Biden and prime minister Boris Johnson warning that it could spark World War Three.

But when asked if he understood why the no-fly zone requests were being denied, Zelenskyy told NBC News: “Nobody knows whether it may have already started. And what is the possibility of this war if Ukraine will fall, in case Ukraine will? It’s very hard to say.

Rescuers work atop an apartment building that was hit by shelling, as Russia's invasion on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine March 16, 2022. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
Rescuers work atop an apartment building in Kyiv that was hit by shelling, as Russia's invasion on Ukraine continues. (Reuters)

“And we’ve seen this 80 years ago, when the Second World War had started... nobody would be able to predict when the full-scale war would start.”

Despite Zelenskyy’s stark warning, more peace talks between Russia and Ukraine are scheduled in hoped of ending the conflict.

Watch: Zelenskyy tells US Congress: 'We need you now'

Zelenskyy said that Vladimir Putin’s demands for ending the war are becoming “more realistic”, while Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said a neutral military status for Ukraine was being "seriously discussed" by the two sides.

A 15-point peace plan has already been drawn up, according to the Financial Times (FT), which includes a ceasefire and a Russian withdrawal.

Russian President Vladimir Putin looks on before a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia March 11, 2022. Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.
Vladimir Putin’s demands for ending the war are reportedly becoming 'more realistic'. (Reuters)

The Ukrainian government would also have to accept neutrality and curbs on its armed forces under the terms laid out.

The FT also claimed that Ukraine would have to give up its bid to join Nato – something Zelenskyy has already acknowledged.

Speaking on Thursday morning, UK Foreign Office minister James Cleverly said any peace deal with Russia must be “one the Ukrainians genuinely believe in” and not “forced into”.

A view shows cars and a building of a hospital destroyed by an aviation strike amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Mariupol, Ukraine, in this handout picture released March 9, 2022.  Press service of the National Police of Ukraine/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY.     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Cars and a building of a hospital destroyed by an aviation strike in Mariupol, Ukraine. (Press service of the National Police of Ukraine/Reuters)

He told BBC Breakfast: “We have seen so much that has come out of the Kremlin and voices in the Kremlin which have turned out to be completely untrue.

“We will judge Russia on its actions. We continue to support president Zelensky in the work that he is doing to try and resolve this.

“The Ukrainians shouldn’t be forced into concessions. You don’t negotiate with a gun to your head.

“We want to make sure that any deal which is agreed between Ukraine and Russia is one the Ukrainians genuinely believe in and we will continue to apply pressure to Russia – economic pressure, sanctions pressure.”

Click on this image to see all Yahoo News UK's latest content on the Ukraine crisis
Click on this image to see all Yahoo News UK's latest content on the Ukraine crisis