President Zelensky: It’s ‘Just About Fairness…Not About Quid Pro Quo’

"I did not speak with US President Trump in those terms: you give me this, I give you that", Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with European publications including Germany's Der Spiegel magazine. "But that signal from them is very important". For me it's very important for the United States, with all they can do for us, for them really to understand that we are a different country, that we are different people. In remarks revealed in German, Zelensky stated he "didn't perceive in any respect" the accusations heard on the hearings and didn't "wish to give an impression that we're beggars" in Ukraine.

Throughout his time in office, Zelensky has focused on ending Ukraine's war against Russian Federation and its proxies, who control two separatist areas in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region. Investments, banks, stakeholders, companies, American, European, companies that have global capital in Ukraine, it's a signal to them that says, 'Be careful, don't invest.' Or, 'Get out of there'. But you have to understand that we are at war, said Zelensky edition.

This is not the first time Zelenskiy denied the accusation of wrongdoing regarding a phone call between him and President Trump. But then he got into how Trump and other US officials had been publicly labeling Ukraine a "corrupt country" and the difficulties that this causes with global investors and businesses.

Barr 'disagrees' with DOJ watchdog report that says Russian Federation probe was justified
Instead, Barr has told allies to wait for Durham's investigation, which he believes will be more complete. The IG operates independently of DOJ leadership, so Barr can not order changes to the report.

While the comedian-turned-president didn't outright break with Trump on any given topic, Zelensky created some noteworthy distance between his country and the White House's stance on issues relevant to the impeachment probe. "And in the event you are our strategic accomplice then you definately must not ever block any help. If the Radical Left Democrats were sane, which they are not, it would be case over!" It's about fairness for me. He presses Ukraine for investigations into Democrats as US aid to Ukraine is withheld. It's not about a quid pro quo.

Within the interview, Zelensky used to be requested about Trump's insist that he held up the defense power help to be sure that Ukraine used to be taking steps to fight rampant corruption. It just goes without saying. At the same time, Zelensky said his conversations with Trump were not about a quid pro quo, which aligns with what the leader has said since the controversy started. Zelensky has on more than one occasion rejected that he was pressured by Trump, but there are reasons to be skeptical of this given Ukraine's deep reliance on the US.Impeachment witnesses, congressional lawmakers, and Ukraine experts have said Zelensky would never admit to feeling pressured or extorted because of Ukraine's culture and his need to keep the US on his side.