Zelensky Warns Putin Has Started WW3

Published: 23 February 2026 . The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has delivered a stark warning to the world, telling the BBC that Russian President Vladimir Putin has already started World War Three through his full-scale invasion of Ukraine and must be stopped with robust pressure and support from the international community.

In an in-depth interview in Kyiv, ahead of the four-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion, Zelensky insisted that the conflict has transcended a bilateral war and become a global threat. “I believe that Putin has already started it,” he said, referring to the invasion as the beginning of a wider world conflict. Zelensky said the key question now is how much territory Moscow can seize and how to prevent further escalation.

The Ukrainian leader firmly rejected the idea of ceding strategic regions, including parts of Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, as a basis for a ceasefire. He argued that such concessions would amount to abandoning hundreds of thousands of civilians and would fracture Ukrainian society. According to Zelensky, giving up land would only provide Russia with a pause to regroup and continue its offensive later.

Zelensky framed the struggle as not merely territorial, but existential, warning that stopping Putin now is critical to preventing a broader global conflict. “Stopping Putin today and preventing him from taking Ukraine is a victory for the entire world,” he said, asserting that Moscow’s ambitions extend beyond Ukraine’s borders.

The Ukrainian president also underscored the need for sustained military and economic pressure on Russia while pursuing diplomatic and security guarantees. He stressed the importance of reinforcing Ukraine’s defences — especially air defence systems — and securing stronger international support, including legislative backing for long-term security partnerships.

Zelensky’s comments come amid continued fighting across the frontline and intense debate among Western allies about the best strategy to support Ukraine and deter further Russian aggression. The remarks mark one of the most forceful public statements by Zelensky warning of the wider implications of Russia’s actions, highlighting Kyiv’s demand for continued Western assistance in its defence effort.

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