Putin Unlikely To Use Nuclear Weapons Because He 'Loves Life' And 'Fears Death': Zelensky

Russian President Putin attends a news conference in Bishkek — Reuters

KEY POINTS

Zelensky said Putin understands that he may face retaliation if he uses nuclear weapons in the war
He made a reference to Putin's long table that is regularly seen during meeting with world leaders
Rumors claim Putin is suffering from Parkinson's disease or cancer

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he believes it is unlikely that Russian President Vladimir Putin would use nuclear weapons in the war because he "loves life" and "fears death."

Zelensky made the comments during a Zoom interview with U.S. television host David Letterman for a special episode of the Netflix series "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction," which aired Monday.

"I am doubtful that he is ready to use nuclear weapons because he understands that if he does, the retaliation of any other state can be made in regards to him. And him personally," Zelensky told Letterman. "He loves this life, he even sits at his long table, scared of Covid or something else. This shows that he fears death, and loves life."

Zelensky's "long table" comment is in reference to Putin's meeting table, which has been seen regularly during his meetings with world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron in February.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sat across from France's Emmanuel Macron at the now-famous table last week SPUTNIK via AFP

At the time, Macron refused to get a COVID-19 test prior to the meeting over concerns that Russia might steal his DNA. The two world leaders sat at opposite ends of a 13-foot-long table (3.9 meters), Reuters reported at the time, citing two sources in the French president's entourage.

Putin also used the same long table in April when he met with U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres.

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the Kremlin in Moscow. During the talks he says he still has 'hope' for successful negotiations with Ukraine SPUTNIK via AFP / Vladimir ASTAPKOVICH

It is unclear why the table was brought out during their meeting. However, Oliver Holmes, a journalist for The Guardian, wrote that the table may either be used to limit Putin's exposure to other people or it is part of an attempt to make the Russian leader appear more intimidating.

Other versions of Putin's long table were seen on two separate occasions. He debuted a large round table in May during a meeting with members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

The round table was dwarfed in June when the Russian president debuted a large rectangular table while meeting with fellow heads of state in Turkmenistan.

Putin has been the subject of health rumors for many years. However, recent rumors claimed the Russian strongman is suffering from Parkinson's disease or cancer.

The latest health rumor circulated last week after the Telegram channel "General SVR," purported to be run by a former Russian spy, claimed Putin fell down the stairs and soiled himself. The International Business Times could not independently verify the claim.