WASHINGTON, February 28. /TASS/. Vladimir Zelensky tried to argue with US President Donald Trump at their meeting, sometimes rushed to answer media questions ahead of the American leader or interrupted him, and rudely reacted to some of the questions.
Before starting the talks, Trump and Zelensky held a question-and-answer session with the press. When Trump talked about how it was more important for him to reach a deal to end the conflict, Zelensky interjected to emphasize that for him it was important to get back all the lost cities. Zelensky also interrupted Trump’s remarks that when he was president, all Ukraine-related agreements were always honored. Zelensky spoke to the effect that Russia allegedly violated a ceasefire in 2016 and later on, during the time of Trump’s presidency, prompting the American leader to disagree. In another case, Zelensky objected when Trump said that Ukraine would have to make compromises, although this time he was able to refrain from challenging the US leader.
At one point, a reporter asked Zelensky why he showed up for the meeting in one of his sweaters instead of a suit, to which Zelensky replied that he would wear a suit after the conflict was over, and that suit might be better than the reporter’s.
Zelensky rehashed his usual accusations against Russia. Asked if he believed in further support from the US, he tried to give Trump an opportunity to answer, which Trump ignored. Zelensky then began to say that the US is on the side of Ukraine, but Trump left that statement without comment.
Zelensky ignored the question about the chance of holding elections in Ukraine.