"Putin will die soon" VIDEO

"It's a fact and everything will be over," added Zelensky, stating that the Russian leader hopes to "remain in power until his death."

According to the Ukrainian president, Putin's ambitions are not limited to Ukraine, but could lead to a "direct confrontation with the West."

At the same time, he pointed out that it is crucial that the USA must not remove Russian President Vladimir Putin from political and economic isolation.

"It is very important that America does not help Putin get out of global isolation now," Zelensky said during a visit to Paris. "I think this is dangerous. This is one of the most dangerous times."

Zelensky called on the United States and Europe to remain united in putting pressure on Putin. The Russian leader is afraid of the European-American alliance and hopes to break it, Zelensky said.

Zelensky said the limited ceasefire in the Black Sea was "certainly a step towards ending the war", but stressed Ukraine's commitment to a complete cessation of hostilities. "In general, we were ready for a complete ceasefire," he told the French media at a panel interview.

The Ukrainian president also expressed hope that the US would remain "strong" in the face of Russian demands for the lifting of sanctions as a condition for a ceasefire in the Black Sea.

Zelensky was also asked if the US would resist Russian pressure, to which he replied: "I hope so. God bless them, they will. But we'll see."

He then said that he was "very grateful" for the support of the US, but said he was afraid that some were "under the influence of Russian narratives", which Ukraine cannot agree with.

When asked whether US President Donald Trump has a closer relationship with him or Russian President Vladimir Putin, Zelensky said he did not know. "I don't know, it's hard for me to say... I don't know what kind of relationships he has, I don't know how many conversations he had," he answered.

The Ukrainian leader was also asked about comments made by Trump's Ukraine envoy Steve Witkoff, who in an interview last week rejected Europe's efforts to create a "coalition of the willing" to support Ukraine.

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In response, Zelensky said that he will not "judge hastily", but that he knows that he has experience in buying real estate, and that "this is something different".

He also said that Europe was "significantly strengthened" during the war.

A BBC reporter asked him how he thought he would be remembered in the history books: as the man who saved Ukraine or as the man who let it fall?

"I don't know what will be written about me in the history books. That is not my purpose or goal," Zelensky said, stating that his goal is to defend Ukraine and see his children "walking the streets without hiding."

"I will do everything I can until the end of my days to defend Ukraine as much as I can," he added.

On whether Ukraine should be allowed to join NATO, Zelensky said his "tough" nation would strengthen the alliance, although he noted that the Trump administration had rejected Kyiv's membership.