Russia will 'wage war' on Nato if US withdraws support: Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky believes Russia is preparing to "wage war" against a weakened NATO should President Trump dilute US support for the alliance.

In an interview with broadcaster NBC on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Zelensky also said Trump had the leverage to push Vladimir Putin into ceasefire negotiations over Ukraine, but warned the Russian leader should never be trusted. "We believe that Putin will wage war against NATO," Zelensky said.

He suggested Putin may be waiting "for a weakening of Nato", which could be triggered by the possibility "that the United States of America will think to take its military from Europe". An emboldened Russia would move swiftly into territorial expansionist mode, the Ukranian leader said. "I don't know (if) they will want 30% of Europe, 50%, I don't know. Nobody knows. But they will have this possibility."