And the best part? He did it on Fox News.
This is what true global leadership looks like…
“After your meeting, President Trump said you disrespected him, the vice president, and the entire United States in the Oval Office,” Bret Baier of Fox News said as he interviewed Zelenskyy. “Do you believe that’s the case? And do you think you owe President Trump an apology?”
“Thank you very much. First, I appreciate the invitation for this conversation, and I wish all the best to everyone in your country, to all Americans,” Zelenskyy responded. “I am truly grateful to the American people for their continued support. You’ve done a lot. I thank President Trump and the bipartisan backing from Congress, and I am always grateful on behalf of all our people.”
“You’ve helped us greatly from the very start of this full-scale invasion, and you’ve helped us survive. We remain strategic partners,” he continued.
“And even in difficult conversations like this one, I believe it’s important to be open and honest with each other because understanding one another is crucial for us,” Zelenskyy emphasized.
“To President Trump – and with all respect for his desire to end this war – but no one wants it to end more than we do. We are in Ukraine, we are fighting for our freedom and our lives,” he explained.
“Therefore, I think it’s vital we are on the same side, and I hope the president stands with us, as that is crucial in stopping Putin,” Zelenskyy said. “I’ve heard President Trump say multiple times that he would stop the war, and I hope that becomes a reality. We need to put pressure on him, alongside Europe and all our partners.”
“And I believe this dialogue should have occurred a bit earlier to truly understand where we stand,” he continued. “As President Reagan once said, peace is not merely the absence of war.”
“Yes, we’re talking about justice, lasting peace, freedom, human rights – that’s why I say ‘I think’ a ceasefire is essential,” he added. “And remember, Putin has violated twenty-five ceasefires over the years, spanning over a decade.”
“So, I haven’t heard from you, Mr. President, any indication that you think you owe President Trump an apology,” Baier remarked, trying to push Zelenskyy into a corner, likely aware that Trump was watching at home.
“No, I respect the president, and I respect the American people. If anything – I believe we need to be very open and honest with each other, and I’m not certain that we’ve done anything wrong,” Zelenskyy answered calmly.
“I think there are some things we should discuss outside the media, with all due respect to democracy and free press, but there are aspects we need to understand about Ukraine’s position,” he explained. “And that’s what matters most.”
“We are partners, very close partners. We must be fair and free,” Zelenskyy concluded, sounding more like an American president than Donald Trump himself.
What a powerful demonstration of national spirit. Rather than engaging in ego-driven responses or petty arguments, Zelenskyy rose above Trump’s childish behavior, focusing on the needs of his people.
Zelenskyy isn’t looking to bring Trump down. His priority is securing a lasting peace for his war-torn country, a task made even more challenging by Trump’s cozy relationship with Vladimir Putin.
Zelenskyy is right to say that such crucial discussions should be happening privately, not turned into a media spectacle. Trump and Vance strategically ambushed him in the Oval Office, knowing it would grab headlines and entertain their base.
They’re not genuine leaders. Zelenskyy is.
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