Zelensky, after the break with Trump: "We want the US on our side"

WashingtonThe interview on Donald Trump's friendly network, Fox News, has begun where Vice President JD Vance had left off his attacks this morning. After Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was forced to listen to his deputy shout at him that he should be "thankful" for the American support, presenter Bert Baier pressed twice: should Zelensky apologize for having disrespected Trump, as the tycoon claimed? Zelensky's first response: thanks to the president, Congress and the American people. Second: "No. I respect the president and the American people. [...] I don't think I did anything wrong."

Zelensky decided to continue the interview on Fox after leaving the White House without signing the agreement for the United States to exploit Ukraine's minerals. The Ukrainian leader sat on the set with the intention of rebuilding the bridge that Trump blew up and said that, after the booing, he believes it is still possible to save the relationship. "I think our relationship can be saved, our relationship goes beyond us as presidents, it goes to our people. And of course thanks to Congress and the president, but above all to his people," the Ukrainian said again.

The intention to revive the relationship with Trump has not implied a direct renunciation of the objectives that Zelensky pursued from the beginning in the agreement on rare earths. The Ukrainian has again insisted on the need for a firm commitment from Washington to Ukraine's security guarantees. "Now we just want to find the place for our most important strategic partner, the United States, or the United States will propose where and how they will give us security guarantees, of what type and in what quantity. When we are ready for that, we will move on to diplomacy," Zelensky said.

"We will have negotiations. I have always said that. I believe that this is about a fair and lasting peace. This means that we must be very strong at the negotiating table. And in these negotiations, Ukraine and Russia, as parties to this war, must be present, as well as the United States and Europe," said the Ukrainian, who stressed the need for real security guarantees from the United States.

The presenter also asked him if he regrets the scene in the Oval Office, Zelensky - who needed a translation to understand the expression - answered without hesitation: "Yes, it was not good." Baier also asked him if the whole scene had been planned in advance by the Trump administration - an idea that was discussed after the clash between the two leaders:

-Zelensky: "I don't know"

-Baier: "Do you mean, it could be yes?" English: do you think so?"

-Zelensky: "No, no. I mean no. I think it was a tense moment because we were very honest."

The Ukrainian president recalled that Trump wants to present himself as the supposed mediator between two warring countries when in reality the war began because Russia invaded Ukraine. "This is not just a war somewhere between our countries. The war began when Russia brought this war to our country. They are not right. They did not respect our territorial integrity. "They brought war to our territory, to our family, to our homes, and they are not right," Zelensky said. Asked by Baier whether he thought Trump was more in favour of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Ukrainian replied: "Ukrainians want to hear a US position on our side."

Responding to a comment by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham that Zelensky should resign in the wake of the events - echoing Trump and the Kremlin's view that there should be elections in Ukraine - the Ukrainian replied: "The decision can only be made by the people of Ukraine."

Before flying to his Mar-a-Lago mansion after blowing up the negotiations, Trump again told reporters that Zelensky "does not hold the cards" and should stop complaining about Putin. "He says: Putin this, Putin that. All negative things. "What he should say is, 'I want to make peace,'" said the president, who once again wants to turn the Russian invasion of Ukraine into a supposed conflict between two equal parties. "He should stop the war," Trump said.

White House sources have explained that Trump is not interested in reviewing or reviving the minerals agreement with Ukraine at this time, according to Reuters.