Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, at the heart of Donald Trump's impeachment trial, said on Saturday February 15 that he wanted to turn the page of this scandal which, according to Kiev, has left its mark on relations between Ukraine and United States.
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" After all this soap opera, I want to go (to Washington) and open a blank page in our relationships, " he told the Munich Security Conference (MSC). ). While Washington has still not given a date for Zelensky's visit, the latter has invited the President to visit Ukraine. " I invite President Trump to Kiev, I am ready to receive him before he receives me, " he assured to the applause of the audience.
Shortly afterwards, Ukrainian foreign minister Vadym Prystaïko admitted that the affair had had an impact on relations with Washington, whose support was nevertheless crucial for Kiev against Russia, which in 2014 annexed the Crimea peninsula and was accused to support the pro-Russian separatists in their war with government forces in eastern Ukraine. " There are things that have not disappeared " with the end of the dismissal procedure, the minister told a small group of journalists, including AFP, on the sidelines of the conference.
He notably mentioned the departure of the US special envoy to Ukraine, Kurt Volker, who was a key figure in discussions with Moscow on the conflict in eastern Ukraine, but resigned in September after testifying in Congress as part of the recall investigation and was not replaced. " The disappearance of this permanent communication channel (with Washington) is a serious loss caused by the impeachment trial, " said Prystaïko.
" Many of our American friends who knew Ukraine well and found themselves entangled in this story have been dismissed, " added a Ukrainian official on condition of anonymity.
"US support for Ukraine remains strong"
Before being acquitted in early February by the Senate, where the majority belongs to the Republicans, Donald Trump was prosecuted for abuse of power for his personal political gain. He was accused of having used state resources, notably by freezing crucial military aid for Ukraine, in an attempt to force Kiev to " dirty " its possible presidential opponent Joe Biden.
Kurt Volker said that " American support for Ukraine remains strong ". " The impeachment trial has significantly affected our domestic policy, but it has nothing to do with Ukraine, " he said. " Many people in positions of responsibility have a very strong commitment to Ukraine, " said Volker, but did not quote Trump.
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For his part, Mr. Zelensky has been trying for months to extricate himself from American political battles so as not to alienate either the Republicans or the Democrats.
