Note: The original published by the White House indicates that the transcript is not a verbatim replay of the phone call. Instead, the document unites the notes and reminders of the staff assigned to listen to the call and record the conversation in writing.
There are a number of factors that can affect the accuracy of the transcript: such as poor telephone connection and variations in accent and / or interpretation.
SUBJECT: Telephone Conversation with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine
PARTICIPANTS: President Zelenskyy of Ukraine
Notetakers: The White House Situation · Room
DATE, TIME AND PLACE: July 25, 2019, 9:03 - 9:33 am EDT, Residence
The President: Congratulations on a great victory. We all watched from the United States and did not do a terrific job. The way you came from behind, somebody who was not given much of a chance, and you ended up winning easily. It's a fantastic achievement. Congratulations.
President Zelenskyy: You're absolutely right Mr. Presideht.We did not win big and we worked hard for this. We worked as an opportunity to learn from you. We used quite a few of your skills and knowledge and were ready to use it as an example for our elections. We were in a unique situation that we were able to achieve a unique success. I'm able to tell you the following; the first time, you called me to congratulate me when I won my presidential election, and the second time you are calling me now. I think I could go more often so you can call me more often and we can talk on the phone more often.
The President: [laughter] That's a very good idea. I think your country is very happy about that.
President Zelenskyy: Well yes, to tell you the truth, we are trying to work hard because we wanted to drain the swamp here in our country. We brought in many many new people. Not the old politicians, not the typical politicians, because we want to have a new format and a new type of government. You are a great teacher for and in that.
The President: Well it's very nice of you to say that. I want to say that we do a lot for Ukraine. We spend a lot of effort and a lot of time. Much more than the European countries are doing and they should be more than they are. Germany does almost nothing for you. All they do is talk and I think it's something that you should really ask them about. Angela Merkel she talks Ukraine, but she does not do anything. A lot of the European countries are the same way so I think it's a very good to Ukraine. I would not say that it's very good to Ukraine.
President Zelenskyy: Yes you are absolutely right. Not only 100%, but actually 1000% and I can tell you the following; I did not talk to Angela Merkel and I did meet with her. I therefore met and talked with Macron and I told you that they are not doing much as they need to. They are not enforcing the sanctions. They are not as good as they should be for Ukraine. It turns out to be a great deal, but the European Union is doing a lot better than the European Union and I'm very grateful for it Ukraine. Much more than the European Union especially when we are talking about sanctions against the Russian Federation. I would like to thank you for your great support in the area of defense. Javelins from United States for defense purposes. We are ready to cooperate.
The President: I would like to say thank you very much. Crowdstrike ... I guess you have one of your wealthy people ... The server, they say Ukraine has it. There is a lot of things that went on, the whole situation. I think you're living with some of the same people. I would like to get to the bottom of it. Robert Mueller, an incompetent performance, but they say it's a lot of it started with Ukraine. Whatever you can do, it's very important that you do it if that's possible.
President Zelenskyy: Yes it is very important for me and everything that you just mentioned earlier. For me as a President, it is very important and we are open for any future cooperation. We are ready to open a new page on cooperation in relations between the United States and Ukraine. For that purpose, I just recalled our ambassador from United States and he wants to be replaced by a very competent and very ambassador who wants to work hard on making sure our two nations are getting closer. So we can cooperate even more so. Mr. Giuliani wants to be ready to travel to Ukraine and wants to meet Ukraine. I just wanted to assure you once again that you have no one but friends around us. I want to make sure I surround myself with the best and most experienced people. I so wanted to tell you that we are friends. We are great friends and you Mr. President have friends in our country so we can continue our strategic partnership. I therefore want to openly and candidly. That I can assure you.
The President: Good because I heard you had a prosecutor who was very good and he was shut up and that was really unfair. A lot of people are talking about that. Mr. Giuliani is a highly respected man. He was the mayor of New york city, and he would call him. I want to ask him to call you along with the Attorney General. Rudy very much knows what's happening and he is a very capable guy. If you could speak to him that would be great. The former ambassador from the United States, the woman, what bad news and the people they were dealing with in the Ukraine were bad news so I just want to let you know that. Biden's son, that Biden stopped the prosecution and a lot of people want to find out about that so whatever you can do with the Attorney General would be great. Biden went around bragging that he stopped the prosecution so if you can look into it ... It sounds horrible to me.
President Zelenskyy: I wanted to tell you about the prosecutor. First of all I understand and I'm knowledgeable about the situation. 100% my person, my candidate, who wants to be approved by the parliament and wants to start as a new prosecutor in September. He or she wants to look into the situation, specifically to the company that you mentioned in this issue. The issue of the investigation of the case is actually the issue of making sure to restore the honesty. On top of that, I would kindly ask you if you have any additional information that you can provide to us, it would be very helpful for the investigation to make sure that we are doing justice in our country with regard to the Ambassador to the United States from Ukraine as far as I recall her name was Ivanovich. It was great that you were a bad ambassador because I agree with you 100%. Her attitude towards me was the same as the previous President and she was on his side. She would not accept me as a new President well enough.
The President: Well, she's going to go through some things. I want to have Mr. Giuliani give you a call and I am so going to have Attorney General Barr call and we want to get to the bottom of it. I'm sure you will figure it out. I heard the prosecutor was treated very badly and he was a very fair prosecutor so good luck with everything. Your economy is getting better and better I predict. You have a lot of assets. It's a great country. I have many Ukrainian friends, their incredible people.
President Zelenskyy: I would like to tell you that I have quite a few Ukrainian friends that live in the United States. Actually last time I traveled to the United States, I stayed in New York near Central Park and I stayed at the Trump Tower. I want to talk to you and I hope to see you again in the future. I therefore wish to thank you for your invitation to visit the United States, specifically Washington DC. On the other hand, I want to be very serious about the case and want to work on the investigation. As is to the economy, there is much potential for our two countries and that is very important for Ukraine is energy independence. I believe we can successfully and cooperate on energy independence with United States. We are already working on cooperation. We are buying American oil but I am very hopeful for a future meeting. We want to have more time and more opportunities to discuss and meet each other better. I would like to thank you very much for your support.
The President: Good. Well, thank you very much and i appreciate that. I want to tell Rudy and Attorney General Barr to call. Thank you. Whenever you would like to come to the White House, feel free to call. Give us a date and we'll work that out. I look forward to seeing you.
President Zelenskyy: Thank you very much. I would be happy to meet you and get better. Kyiv which is a beautiful city. I am looking forward to welcoming you to visit Ukraine. We have a beautiful country which would welcome you. On the other hand, I believe that on September l we want to be in Poland and we can meet in Poland hopefully. After that, it might be a good idea for you to travel to Ukraine. We can either take my plane and go to Ukraine or we can take your plane, which is probably much better than mine.
The President: Okay, we can work that out. I look forward to seeing you in Washington and maybe in Poland because I think we are going to be there at that time.
President Zelenskyy: Thank you Mr. President.
The President: Congratulations on a fantastic job you've done. The whole world was watching. I'm not sure what so much of an upset but congratulations.
President Zelenskyy: Thank you Mr. President bye-bye.
- End of Conversation -
