Zelenskyy speaks about visiting Trump’s inauguration
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (photo: president.gov.ua)
The inauguration of the newly elected US president is set to take place on January 20. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed a desire to attend the event but emphasized that he would do so only at the direct invitation of Donald Trump, according to an interview between the Ukrainian leader and American journalist Lex Fridman.
During the conversation, the interviewer extended an invitation to Zelenskyy to attend the US presidential inauguration, to which the Ukrainian leader responded:
"I would like to, of course, I will be considering what is happening then in the war, because there are moments of difficulties, escalation, many missiles, etc. but honestly, well, I can't I can't come, especially during the war, unless President Trump invites me personally," Zelenskyy said.
He further emphasized that he is not the type of leader to show up without an invitation, stating that he could not allow himself to do so.
"I'm not sure it's proper to come, because I know that in general leaders are for some reason not usually invited to the inauguration of the presidents of the United States of America. Well and I know that there are leaders who can simply come, want to come, and will come. Yeah I know. And I know the temperament of some of these people, they can come at their discretion. This is very, very difficult for me," the Ukrainian president explained.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently stated that following the inauguration, Donald Trump’s focus will initially be on domestic issues, but Ukraine and the Middle East will remain priorities in his international policy. Zelenskyy also emphasized that the American leader’s plan to end the war must align with Ukraine’s vision.
