Klitschko warns Putin could go on rampage across whole of Europe after Ukraine
Vitali Klitschko has issued a stark warning... if his country Ukraine is defeated by Russia, Vladimir Putin will go on a far wider rampage.
Klitschko, who is the mayor of Kyiv and a former world heavyweight boxing champion, said victory for Putin would result in the Russian president ordering invasions of several NATO countries. Ahead of the second anniversary of Russia ’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Klitschko has also made an impassioned appeal for help to prevent his nation being conquered.
In a powerful phone call with the Mirror, he said: “We do not defend just our country, but every one of you in Europe and everyone in the world. Now is the time to help us defend our country – and you.
“We urgently need much stronger weaponry to turn the tables on the Russians. We can do it... together.” He added: “Everyone in the West has to understand we in Ukraine defend not just our home and our families.
“If Russia can smash the biggest country in Eastern Europe into submission, they will be after the rest of you very soon. That includes the part of Germany where Putin used to do his KGB spying and help repress millions of Europeans under the old Communist regime.”
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Putin is set to rampage across Europe, should he defeat Ukraine (Getty Images)An invasion of a NATO country could spark a world war. Klitschko added: “The whole of Europe and even the world could be heavily affected if the Russians smash up the nuclear reactor in southern Ukraine. “That would be five or 10 times worse than the Chernobyl disaster.”
He vowed Ukraine would repel any new attack on the capital Kyiv. Klitschko, 52 – who was nicknamed Dr Ironfist during his boxing days and was world champ for seven years – is hailed as a hero for the way he has led the people of Kyiv in the past two years. The 6ft 7in politician said: “Already the last few months have been far better than the awful winter we had a year ago and that’s because you, in the West, have given us the anti-missile systems to shoot down Russia’s missiles and drones. Even with what we’ve got, we should just about be able to prevent them from capturing my city.”
Referring to some of the atrocities committed in the spring of 2022 in towns not far from Kyiv, he added: “We know what they did in Bucha and Irpin. And they would do the same or worse if they get into Kyiv. If the West does not act now, Putin will be back on my doorstep in Kyiv.”
President Putin launched the full-scale invasion two years ago on Saturday. The day after the onslaught began, Klitschko announced that he and his brother, fellow former world heavyweight boxing champ, Wladimir, 47, would be joining up to fight if needed. This promise was made despite their dad having been a major general in the Soviet Union’s air force. Vitali said in February 2022: “I don’t have another choice, I have to do that. I’ll be fighting. I believe in Ukraine, I believe in my country and I believe in my people.
“The Ukrainian people are strong. And it will remain true to itself in this terrible ordeal. A people longing for sovereignty and peace.”
There has been growing tension between him and Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky. They originally fell out over the number and safety of bomb shelters in Kyiv at the end of last year. While Zelensky’s poll ratings have dropped over the past 12 months, Klitschko’s have remained remarkably high. And there have even been reports he may stand in any upcoming presidential election when it is finally held.
But he insists the most important thing at the moment is for his country to remain united in its fight against Russia, adding: “Without full unity there will be disaster.”
Klitschko, whose contests against British opponents during his boxing career included victories over Derek Chisora and Herbie Hide and a defeat to Lennox Lewis, said: “Political competition between different parties in the current situation will destroy the country from inside.”
The man who has been mayor of Kyiv since 2014 added: “We must all focus now on saving our country and we can’t do this without you in the West doing what is in your own interests – helping us fight our war for you all.”
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