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On February 28, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived at the White House for a meeting with US President Donald Trump.
During the live broadcast of the talks between Zelenskyy, Trump, and Vice President J.D. Vance, a dispute arose. Vance said that the Trump administration was trying to resolve the war in Ukraine diplomatically. Zelenskyy, in response, emphasized that Russia has been waging war since 2014, and no US administration has been able to stop it.
Trump interrupted the Ukrainian leader, saying: “Don’t tell us how we feel. We are trying to solve a problem.” Later, he noted that Zelenskyy was “not in a good position” and “has no cards to negotiate.” The Ukrainian president responded: “I don’t play cards”.
Later, after controversial conversation with Donald Trump Zelenskyy gave interview to Fox News. Read more key statements.
Zelenskyy, in an interview with Fox News, stated that he wants peace—that’s exactly why he came to Washington.
“I am here to sign an agreement on rare earth minerals, but we need a just peace with reliable security guarantees,” the president said.
Zelenskyy stated that he did not believe he did anything wrong in his conversation with Trump and Vance in the Oval Office.
“I respect Trump and the American people. I believe we should be open and honest. But I don’t think I did anything wrong. There are moments when it’s important to understand Ukraine’s position and the perspective of Ukrainians,” the president said in response to Bret Baier’s question about whether he believes he should apologize to Trump.
Zelenskyy stated that he regrets that his dispute with Trump and Vance happened in front of the cameras rather than behind closed doors.
More key statements during the Fox News interview:
- I am grateful to Trump and the people of the United States for their help, you helped us survive, — Zelenskyy in an interview with Fox News
- Nobody wants the war to end more than we, Ukrainians, — Zelenskyy in an interview with Fox News
- “I’m not sure we did anything wrong. We need to discuss something off camera. They need to hear Ukraine’s position,” — Zelenskyy
- We are ready to sign a deal on minerals. But this is not enough. Maybe I don’t know something and Trump has a plan to stop Putin? — Zelenskyy
- “Peace is not just the absence of war,” — Zelenskyy quoted Reagan in an interview with Fox News
- The head of the Ukrainian state emphasized that Ukraine needs long-term peace, not a ceasefire that Russia will violate.
- “We are ready for peace, but we must have a strong position and security guarantees. Am I wrong?” — Zelenskyy
- Only Ukrainians elect the president of Ukraine, — Zelenskyy
- This is how the head of state responded to Republican Lindsay Gramm in an interview with Fox News, who called on the Ukrainian president to resign.
- I cannot change our attitude towards the Russians, they are murderers. Putin and the Russians are our enemies. This does not mean that we do not want peace, — Zelenskyy
- Ukraine is ready to sign an agreement on minerals and this will be the first step towards security guarantees — Zelenskyy
- Stories that Ukraine is already destroyed, millions have died, and the president is a dictator. Where is the friendship between the US and Ukraine? — Zelenskyy
- We do not have a million losses, — Zelenskyy
Read more: Results of Zelenskyy’s visit to the White House: controversies and unfinished deals
