The Ukrainian leader was “absolutely right” to push the US president to change his stance on the conflict, Mikhail Podoliak has said
FILE PHOTO: Mikhail Podoliak. © Emin Sansar / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Kiev will not apologize for the clash between Vladimir Zelensky and US President Donald Trump at the White House, Mikhail Podoliak, a top adviser to the Ukrainian leader, has said. He defended Zelensky’s conduct at last week’s meeting, claiming that the US should understand the necessity of piling maximum pressure on Russia.
During the explosive meeting in the Oval Office, Zelensky cast doubt on the possibility of diplomacy with Russia and told Trump and his vice president, J.D. Vance, that the US “will feel” the impact of the conflict. Trump accused Zelensky of disrespect, ingratitude for past US aid, reluctance to seek peace with Russia, and “gambling with World War III.”
Following the spat, Zelensky again thanked the US for its military assistance, claiming that “Ukraine is ready to sit down at the negotiating table.” While stopping short of apologizing, the Ukrainian leader acknowledged that the sit-down with Trump “did not go as planned.” “It is unfortunate that this happened,” he added, urging the US to continue diplomatic engagement.
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In an interview with the French magazine Le Point on Friday, Podoliak defended Zelensky, insisting that “he was absolutely right in form and substance when he tried to convey to our American partners the key idea: nothing will be done without coercion of Russia.”
“Without coercion of Russia, there can be no peace negotiations. Our president tirelessly explains to our partners what this war is and who provoked it… So we will not apologize for a supposed mistake that did not take place,” he said.
He also rejected the notion that Trump and Vance had “humiliated” Zelensky, portraying the war of words as a “very emotional discussion” which he said could help in hashing out differences between Kiev and Washington.
Following the Trump-Zelensky spat, the US froze military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, with American officials saying the pause would remain in place until Kiev showed commitment to holding peace talks.