Trump didn’t pressure me, Zelensky asserts

Ukrainian President Zelensky engaged in his
long-awaited meeting with U.S. President Trump on Sept. 25 at the United
Nations in New York amid a raging scandal surrounding alleged attempts by the
U.S. president to pressure him for political favors. Before the meeting, the
two presidents held a press conference addressing the scandal, with Zelensky
asserting, “We had, I think, good phone call. It was normal. We spoke about
many things. I think, and you read it, that nobody pushed me.” At that point,
Trump added, “In other words, no pressure. Because, you know what, there was no
pressure. And you know there was no pressure. All you have to do is see what
went on on the call.” Zelensky later added that he hasn’t pressured anyone,
particularly the prosecutor general, since becoming president in fulfilling any
requests.

In his turn, Trump defended the actions of his
personal attorney Rudy Giuliani in investigating the activity of Joe and Hunter
Biden in Ukraine. “When Biden’s son walks away with millions of dollars from
Ukraine, and he knows nothing, and they’re playing him millions of dollars,
that’s corruption,” the U.S. president said, referring to his reported monthly
salary of USD 50,000 by sitting on the board of Burisma Holdings, which
promotes itself as Ukraine’s largest extractor of natural gas.

Trump called upon the EU to do more to help Ukraine
“because they’re not doing what they should be doing.” Trump also encouraged
Zelensky in his plans to end the war in Donbas. “I really believe that
President Putin would like to do something,” he said. “I really hope that you
and President Putin get together and can solve your problem. That would be a
tremendous achievement. And I know you are trying to do that.”

Earlier that day, Zelensky addressed the United
Nations General Assembly in an ideological speech condemning war and reminding world
leaders of the consequences. He offered few specifics, except calling for
global support in his efforts to end war in Donbas, as he had repeated
throughout his four-day visit. “The end of war, the return of all occupied
Ukrainian territories and the rule of peace are my priority tasks,” he said.
“But not at the price of the lives of our citizens, freedom or the right of
Ukraine to its own choice.”