Zelenskyy on his rhetoric towards Trump: No time for quiet signals

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he is unfazed by US President Donald Trump's statements about the need to hold elections in Ukraine, as "freedom of speech exists not only in Ukraine, but in the US as well".

Source: Zelenskyy to journalists at a briefing, as reported by Ukrinform

Details: Asked how he viewed the US president's statements about the need to hold elections in Ukraine, Zelenskyy said: "How do I feel about it? I'm calm. Freedom of speech exists not only in Ukraine, but in the US as well. President Trump can say whatever he wants about me personally, but not about Ukraine. When he says something about Ukraine, I respond because I have a responsibility to defend our country."

Journalists also asked the president whether his European counterparts have urged him to soften his rhetoric towards the US.

Quote from Zelenskyy: "As regards my rhetoric, if you speak very cautiously about something or someone, it takes a long time to achieve results. But that is only if you have that time. For example, if you have a sufficient number of anti-ballistic missiles. If something gets switched off or something happens to diesel supplies, you can send signals quietly and cautiously.

But when you are living from one night to the next – and now there are constant attacks during the day as well – and you have a shortage of anti-ballistic missiles, and something else gets switched off, you simply don't have time for quiet signals. You want the problem to be noticed, addressed and resolved. And I choose the approach available to me: I speak directly and frankly."

Details: The president also stressed that he has good and constructive relations with Trump and has held excellent meetings with him and his team.

"But that does not mean that, in the course of constructive dialogue, anyone should ignore destructive actions. And I say this openly," the president said.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon to help us keep reporting!