Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today, a day after his verbal clash with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House, that "it is very important" that Ukraine be "heard", not "forgotten", Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
Zelensky and Trump did not sign the prepared framework agreement yesterday for US access to Ukrainian rare earth elements after a heated exchange of remarks in the Oval Office.
The deal would have given the US access to valuable minerals in Ukraine. Negotiations on the agreement have been ongoing for weeks, and Zelensky and Trump were scheduled to sign the document yesterday.
"It is very important for us that Ukraine is heard and that no one forgets us either during the war or after it," he said in a post on social media, quoted by Reuters. His post was accompanied by a photo from his meeting with representatives of the Ukrainian community in the US capital, Washington.
"It is important for the people of Ukraine to know that they are not alone, that their interests are represented in every country, in every corner of the world," the Ukrainian president added.
He repeatedly thanked Ukraine's European allies on the "Ex" social platform for their support in the context of his dispute with Trump yesterday, Agence France-Presse reported.
AFP notes that in the "Ex" profile Zelensky has over thirty posts since last night that read “Thank you for your support“, in response to posts expressing sympathy from European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron.
Despite the controversy in Washington, the Ukrainian president also thanked the United States for “their support“ and for “this visit“, as well as President Trump, the US Congress and the American people.
“Ukraine needs a just and lasting peace, and we are working on exactly that,“ he said in another post in “Ex” the head of state of Ukraine.
Zelensky was accused yesterday by Trump and US Vice President J.D. Vance of not being grateful enough for the American aid provided to Kiev and of not wanting to negotiate peace with Russia, AFP recalls.
"Did you say “Thank you“ at least once?“, Vance asked during the verbal clash that led to Zelensky's premature departure from the White House without signing the natural resources agreement, the agency said.
Despite the dispute, Zelensky expressed confidence that his relationship with Trump can survive, Ukrinform noted. His statement was in response to a question from "Fox News" television.
"Yes, of course, because these relations are more than relations between two presidents," Zelensky said. He pointed out that there is a strong relationship between the peoples of Ukraine and the United States.
On the other hand, Zelensky said that he does not feel guilty about what happened in the White House.
"I do not feel that I did anything wrong", said the Ukrainian president.