LONDON, March 2 (Reuters) - Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday he believed he could salvage his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump after their explosive meeting in the Oval Office, but that talks needed to continue behind closed doors.
In an extraordinary meeting that was broadcast live on Friday, Trump accused Zelenskiy of being ungrateful for U.S. aid, of showing disrespect to his country and of risking World War Three, casting into doubt Washington’s ongoing support for Ukraine.
Zelenskiy, talking to reporters after a summit with European leaders in London on Sunday, said he did not think the U.S. would stop its assistance to Ukraine, because as “leaders of the civilized world” they would not want to help Russian President Vladimir Putin.
However, Zelenskiy said he remained prepared for any challenges that may arise. “As regards to salvaging the relationship, I think our relationship will continue,” he told reporters via a translator after the London meeting.
But he added: “I do not think it’s right when such discussions are totally open. … The format of what happened, I don’t think it brought something positive or additional to us as partners.”
Zelenskiy added that he remained ready to sign the proposed minerals deal with the United States, and that he believed the U.S. would be ready as well.
Ugh, I can’t stand the thought of them signing this deal! I get so frustrated every time he entertains it. I don’t want to see them get screwed over while the US still benefits.
The only thing potentially positive is if signing actually gets real help sent there, and the US somehow gets sane people back in power that will repeal the deal or at least amend it more favorably because it was made through coercion.
The lack of a promise to actually send military aid though, plus the profiteering that usually happens when the US “helps” someone makes me really want Europe and friends to come through before he makes a deal with the US.