“It's true — everyone is afraid of Trump,” Zelensky said. “I don't. We're not America's enemies, we're friends. So why should we be afraid?” According to Zelensky, despite differences of opinion, the talks at the White House in October were not dramatic. He denied media reports that Trump angrily threw a map of the front or demanded that Ukraine surrender to Russian conditions. “He didn't throw anything. I'm sure of that,” the president of Ukraine said in an interview.
Zelensky talks about relations with the US. Indicates the help of King Charles III
In a conversation with journalist Luke Harding, he assured that he and the United States had the same values. He added that he respects the will of Americans regarding the election of Donald Trump as president and sees him as an important strategic partner.
In an interview for “The Guardian”, Zelensky also revealed the behind-the-scenes of diplomacy. It turns out that King Charles III was to play an important, informal role in warming relations between Trump and Ukraine following an earlier, tense meeting in February, when the US president publicly criticized Zelensky and ordered him to leave the Oval Office.
What is Zelensky's relationship with Donald Trump?
What does Zelensky say about the role of King Charles III?
Did Trump throw a map of the front during the meeting?
What values do the US and Ukraine have according to Zelensky?
During his September state visit to Great Britain, the president of the United States met privately with the king. “I don't know all the details, but I understand that His Majesty sent important signals to President Trump,” Zelensky said.
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The Ukrainian president also said that Trump respects the king and considers him “very important,” which is a sincere compliment that he does not address to others often. He added that Charles III had been very supportive towards Ukraine and its people from the beginning of the full-scale war. “His Majesty is very sensitive to the needs of our nation. Maybe 'sensitive' is the wrong word. He is very supportive,” the president emphasized.
The interview took place in Kiev, during another wave of Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. During the conversation, the electricity in the Mariinsky Palace went off. “These are our everyday living conditions. Putin cannot destroy us in any other way, so he attacks energy, civilians,” Zelensky commented with a smile.
In an interview with “The Guardian” he also talked about Ukraine's preparations for winter without stable electricity supplies and about further efforts to acquire Western Patriot air defense systems.
