Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today in an interview with the TV channel “Fox News“ that he respects his American counterpart Donald Trump and the American people after the fierce verbal clash between the two leaders last night during negotiations at the White House, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
“I am grateful to Trump and the people of the United States for their help. You helped us survive. I respect the president and the American people. "I don't think we did anything wrong," Zelensky said in response to the host's question about whether it was appropriate to apologize.
“Nobody wants the war to end more than we, the Ukrainians. But peace is not just the absence of war“, the Ukrainian president quoted Reagan as saying.
According to Zelensky, what is needed is a long-lasting peace, not a ceasefire that Russia could violate.
“It will be difficult for us without the support of the United States. That's why I'm here. We need to sign an agreement on minerals, we are ready for that“, added the Ukrainian leader.
Asked if he was ready to return to the White House now, Zelensky replied: “No“.
“I cannot tell my people: Stop!“, said the Ukrainian president, adding: “No one will stop, because everyone is afraid that Putin will return tomorrow“.
“The Russians came to our homes and everyone saw on video what they did. To say that Putin is very cool? If you like, without us. Of course, no one will forget, but we do not want this to happen again. That is why we need security guarantees. "I don't want to lose the good partnership with the United States," Zelensky said.
Asked if he regretted getting into a dispute with Trump and Vance, Zelensky replied that it was not good at all.
Asked if his relationship with Trump could be saved, the Ukrainian president replied: "Of course. Because this is a relationship beyond the relationship between two presidents. This is a matter of relations between our peoples."
“Europe needs security guarantees from the United States for the deployment of Western peacekeeping forces in Ukraine after the end of the war. The deal for Ukrainian minerals could be the first step in this direction,“ Zelensky summed up.
Ukrainian Army Commander-in-Chief General Oleksandr Syrsky expressed support for President Volodymyr Zelensky last night after the Ukrainian leader's verbal clash with US President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance during their meeting at the White House yesterday, Reuters reported.
“The Armed Forces are with Ukraine, with its people, with the Supreme Commander. Our strength is in our unity,“ Syrsky wrote on Facebook.