Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he's not certain Russian President Vladimir Putin is still alive.
An online report by the Ukrainska Pravda said Zelenskyy told a Davos, Switzerland, audience: "I don't quite understand who to talk to and about what. I'm not sure that the Russian president who sometimes appears against a green-screen … is actually the [right] one.
"I don't quite understand if he is alive or whether he makes decisions, or whoever else makes decisions there. What group of people [could be making any decisions in Russia]? I don't have that kind of information.
"I don't quite understand how you can promise European leaders one thing, and the next day launch a full-scale invasion of a country. I just don't quite understand with whom we are dealing. When we say 'peace talks,' I don't quite understand with whom [we should be negotiating].
"We are talking to you now: you know exactly who I am, and I know exactly who you are. There are witnesses to the fact that we are alive. And even if we talk about different things, we can reach a consensus."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov pushed back at Zelenskyy for casting doubt that Putin is alive, CNN reported. Peskov said Zelenskyy "would prefer that neither Russia nor Putin exist."
"The sooner the Ukrainian regime shows readiness to take into account the demands of Russia – which will be achieved one way or another – the sooner everything will end and the sooner the people of Ukraine will begin to recover from the tragedy that the Kyiv regime staged," Peskov said.
Reports surfaced in May on how Putin's actions at his country's annual holiday celebration raised concerns about his health and well-being.
For the "Victory Day" parade, which commemorates the World War II defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, Putin was reportedly draped with a heavy blanket on his leg, despite being surrounded by older military veterans who apparently didn't have extra coverings.
Putin appeared to be in good spirits during his address, and didn't require extra assistance from the base of the speaker's podium. Putin, however, reportedly limped when getting up to make his speech.
Shortly before that, Newsweek reported that Putin was seen gripping a table for assistance while meeting with his defense minister. The presumptions ran rampant after that, including some suspicion of Parkinson's disease or cancer.
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