Zelenski claims to have «respect» for Trump, but avoid apologizing

The president of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelenski, said Friday that he has «respect» for the American leader, Donald Trump, although he avoided apologizing for his confrontation this Friday in the Oval Office.

EFE

«I think we have to be very open and very honest, and I’m not sure we have done something wrong,» Zelenski said at the beginning of an interview with Fox News hours after the incident.

Asked if he felt that his confrontation with Trump had helped or harmed the Ukrainian people, Zelenski said that «this is not good for either part.»

«But, I can’t change our Ukrainian attitude towards Russia. And I don’t want them to kill us for it. It is very, very clear that Americans are our best friends, Europeans are our best friends, and Putin and Russia are our enemies. And that does not mean that we want this, we just want to recognize the real situation, ”he said.

Zelenski lamented that the discussion, which he said was «honest,» with Trump and his vice president, JD Vance, took the witness television cameras.

«I think, perhaps, sometimes, there are some things that we must discuss far from the media, with all respect for democracy and a free press,» said the president.

Zelenski also took advantage of the interview to thank the American people, the Congress and the government for their support during the three years of war, after Vance and Trump accused him of the Oval Office of being «ungrateful.»

He also said that he does not plan to give up his position, after one of his greatest allies among Republicans, Senator Lindsey Graham asked his head to be able to redirect United States relations with Ukraine.

Trump and Zelenski staged a live confrontation on Friday in front of the cameras in the Oval Office of the White House, evidencing the worst moment in relations between Ukraine and the United States since the beginning of the Russian invasion.

After that clash, Zelenski was informed that he had to leave the White House, being suspended lunch and the press conference planned between both leaders.

Zelenski left without signing an agreement on rare minerals that Trump had demanded to maintain his support for kyiv.

In fact, according to The Washington Post, Trump already Sopesa suspend the shipments of military equipment with radars, vehicles, ammunition and missiles to Ukraine after the disastrous visit of Zelenski.