Ukrainian Foreign Minister: Trump did not pressure Ukrainian President Zelensky to investigate Biden's son
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko in an interview to Hromadske TV channel denied that ,during a telephone conversation, US President Donald Trump pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate Joe Biden’s son. According to him, Ukraine is being drawn into the confrontation between Republicans and Democrats.
"Those people who are involved in the Ukrainian-American relations, understand that we have always tried to appreciate the help from both parties. This help has allowed us to guarantee that our priorities in the relations with the USA won't change with the change of administration," said Prystaiko.
He added that Ukraine appreciates the support of US presidents, Congress, but this does not mean that the Ukrainian government wants to help any party, even if Ukraine theoretically could do that.
"President Trump, his advisor Rudy Giuliani, newspapers, Democrats and Republicans ask questions whether there is any pressure on Ukraine. I want to say that we are an independent country, and we have our secrets," said Prystaiko.
He noted that Zelensky has the right to not to disclose the content of his conversation with US President, and American investigators have every right to "get access" to this information in the United States.
"I know what the conversation was about, and I think there was no pressure. There was a conversation, and every conversation is different, leaders have the right to discuss the existing problems. This conversation was long, but it was friendly, and they spoke about many issues. Sometimes you need to give some serious answers," summed up Prystaiko.
Earlier, three committees of the House of Representatives in the US Congress began a "large-scale investigation" into the possible attempts by President Donald Trump and his lawyer Rudy Giuliani to put pressure on the Ukrainian authorities to promote Trump's re-election in 2020 US presidential election.
The Chairmen of the House Foreign Affairs, Intelligence, and Surveillance committees have asked the White House and the US Department of State to provide records related to attempts to "manipulate the Ukrainian justice system."
Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani first admitted, and then denied that he asked Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden, who is Trump's main rival in the election.
The United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence held the first closed hearing on the case of a telephone conversation between Donald Trump and the President of Ukraine on September 19.