Boxing legend Wladimir Klitschko has slammed Joe Rogan for ‘repeating Russian propaganda’ over the war in Ukraine.
The podcast host – and UFC color commentator – recently accused president Biden and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky of trying to ‘start World War III’.
It came after the White House agreed to let Ukraine use powerful US-made missiles against Vladimir Putin‘s invading forces.
‘Zelensky says Putin is terrified. F*** you, man… f*** you, people. You people are about to start World War III,’ Rogan said before turning on 82-year-old Biden.
‘Maybe that would be a good thing we would like to avoid from a dying former president,’ he added.
On Sunday, Ukraine’s former world heavyweight champion Klitschko – whose brother Vitali is mayor of Kyiv – released a video hitting back at Rogan.
The 48-year-old, who last fought in 2017 having dominated the heavyweight division with his brother, accused the podcast host of ‘using the only weapon that (Vladimir) Putin really intends to use’.
‘Joe Rogan, I listened to your latest podcast. I am sending you this video to let you know that I disagree,’ he began.
‘You talk about these American weapons being sent to Ukraine, which you believe will lead to the third World War.
‘So, let me tell you that you’re repeating Russian propaganda – Putin’s Russia is in trouble. So they want to scare you and people like you.
‘His war was supposed to last three days, it has lasted three years thanks to the heroism and sacrifice of us Ukrainians.
‘So you’re using the only weapon that Putin really intends to use: propaganda and this weapon really weakens our democracies.
‘Putin’s Russia wants to destroy Ukraine quietly, they want America to stay quiet – not great. A great America is not an America that abandons countries that defend freedom with their lives.’
Klitschko offered to be a guest on The Joe Rogan Experience – one of the most popular podcasts in the world – so ‘we could discuss (these points) like free men.’
Biden has allowed Kyiv to use the US-supplied Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMs.
It will give Ukraine the chance to strike deeper inside Russia as Putin deploys thousands of North Korean troops.
The president’s move follows the presidential election victory of Donald Trump, who has said he would bring about a swift end to the war.
Trump’s win raised uncertainty about whether his administration would continue the United States’ vital military support for Ukraine.
‘How are you allowed to do that when you’re on your way out?’ Rogan said of Biden, who will leave office in January.
‘There should be some sort of pause for significant actions that could potentially start World War III.’
The Kremlin, meanwhile, warned Monday that Biden’s decision to let Ukraine strike targets inside Russia with US-supplied missiles adds ‘fuel to the fire’ and would escalate international tensions.
‘It is obvious that the outgoing administration in Washington intends to take steps, and they have been talking about this, to continue adding fuel to the fire and provoking further escalation of tensions around this conflict,’ spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia went further, saying Moscow is ‘astounded’ and warning that Europe could be ‘dragged’ into ‘large-scale escalation with drastic consequences.’
In September, meanwhile, Putin said allowing Ukraine to target Russia would significantly raise the stakes.
It would change ‘the very nature of the conflict dramatically,’ Putin said at the time. ‘This will mean that NATO countries — the United States and European countries — are at war with Russia.’
Vitali Klitschko also won the world heavyweight title before ending his career with 45 wins and two losses.
