Policy

Zelensky explains what provoked the dispute at the meeting with Trump

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has explained in an interview with Fox news what caused their public dispute after a spat with American leader Donald Trump, Komersant ukrainskyi reports

The Ukrainian leader shared his vision of the situation and explained what exactly caused his emotional reaction to Trump’s remarks.

Zelenskyy also emphasized that his emotions were not related to personal resentment or anger. His reaction was caused by his deep concern for the way the situation in Ukraine is being assessed, particularly in the context of the war with Russia.

“It’s not about anger. When big politicians say that Ukraine is almost destroyed, our soldiers are fleeing, millions of people have been killed, and the president is a dictator, what should be the reaction? And it’s not about me. Where then is the friendship between the United States and Ukraine?” Zelensky answered the question about what exactly made him angry.

The President of Ukraine answered another question regarding the publicity of this dispute:

“Yes, I think it was not very good. I’m always open to the media, but there were very sensitive things here, and I want our partners to understand things correctly,” Zelenskyy said.

The journalist asked whether Zelenskyy considered it necessary to apologize to Donald Trump.

“I respect the president and I respect the people of America, we need to be very open. I don’t think we did anything wrong. With all due respect to democracy and the media, I think we need to understand Ukraine’s position,” Zelensky said.

As a reminder, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy argued with his American counterpart Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance over the Russian-Ukrainian war.

First, Vance said that the war between Russia and Ukraine should be resolved through diplomacy. In response, the Ukrainian president said that he had already signed an agreement with Putin in the presence of the French president and the German chancellor.

Zelenskyy also said that if a bad deal was signed between Russia and Ukraine, the United States would “feel it.” Vance and Trump were outraged and replied that they would “feel great” and added that Zelenskyy had no right to impose his opinion.

Ukraine and the United States did not sign an agreement on rare earth metals as originally planned. The signing ceremony was canceled.

As part of his visit to Washington, Zelenskiy was scheduled to speak at the conservative Hudson Institute tonight after his meeting with Trump. But now this visit has been canceled.