Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated Friday night that he’s “grateful” for the assistance from the US however wouldn’t supply an apology for the heated trade within the Oval Workplace earlier.
“I’m very grateful to People for all of your assist, you probably did so much. I’m grateful to President Trump and to Congress [for] bipartisan assist and I used to be all the time very grateful, from all our folks. You helped us so much from the very starting,” Mr. Zelenskyy stated to Fox Information’s Bret Baier.
“We have now to be very trustworthy and now we have to be very direct to grasp one another,” he stated.
When pressed a couple of doable apology, Mr. Zelenskyy stated, “No, I respect the president and I respect the American folks and I believe now we have to be very open and really trustworthy and I’m unsure that we did one thing dangerous.”
He famous that the contentious second within the Oval Workplace “is just not good for each side.”
However, he additionally stated he believes his relationship with Mr. Trump might be repaired.
Mr. Zelenskyy says he’s open to negotiations however that Ukraine wants “safety ensures.”
“We’re prepared for peace, however now we have to be in robust place,” he stated. “What does it imply? Simply to know that our military is powerful, that our companions are with us, and that now we have safety ensures.”
He stated the mineral deal — which was purported to be signed at the moment between the 2 leaders however was as a substitute canceled — “is step one to safety ensures.”
“However I respect my troopers and our folks, our civilians who work and assist our warriors. I can’t say, ’Simply cease.’ No person will cease, as a result of [everybody’s] afraid that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin will come again tomorrow,” he stated. “We would like simply and lasting peace. It’s true. We would like safety ensures.”
He admitted that it will be “tough” for Ukraine to outlive the conflict with out assist from the U.S.
“It is going to be tough with out your assist, however we will’t lose our values, our folks, we will’t lose our freedom,” he stated.
The Oval Workplace assembly between Mr. Trump and Mr. Zelenskyy noticed tensions flare over U.S. wartime assist for Ukraine. Mr. Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance accused Mr. Zelenskyy of not displaying gratitude for billions in U.S. support, whereas the Ukrainian chief countered that Russian President Vladimir Putin can’t be trusted to honor a diplomatic answer to the combating.
It ended with the scheduled lunch and joint press convention canceled, and Mr. Zelenskyy leaving the White Home.
