Zelensky: No Time for "Quiet Signals" in Dealings with the US

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he takes US President Donald Trump's statements about the need for elections in Ukraine calmly, even as the country remains under Russian attack. He made the remarks in a conversation with journalists, to which the outlet Ukrainska Pravda was not invited; they were quoted by Ukraine's state news agency Ukrinform.

Zelensky noted that freedom of speech exists not only in Ukraine but in America too. In his words, Trump may say what he wants about him personally, but not about Ukraine. When the US leader speaks about Ukraine, Zelensky responds, since he considers it his responsibility to defend the country.

On the tone of his rhetoric

Journalists asked whether European colleagues had urged him to soften his rhetoric toward the US. Zelensky replied that speaking very cautiously about something takes a long time to produce results, and that this works only if one has that time. He gave an example: with enough anti-ballistic missiles and no outages, signals can be sent quietly and carefully.

However, he said, Ukraine lives from night to night, and now strikes also come during the day. There is a shortage of anti-ballistic systems, and other things are being cut off as well. Under such conditions there is no time for "quiet signals". The president wants the problem to be noticed, answered and solved, so he chooses to speak directly and openly.

Relations with Trump

Zelensky stressed that he has good, constructive relations with Trump and has had excellent meetings with him and his team. But, he said, constructive dialogue does not mean that destructive steps will go unnoticed. He says he states this openly.