Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected claims that he governs a “corrupt” country in his first major interview since President Trump’s impeachment acquittal.
Speaking to CNN on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany on Saturday, Zelensky was read comments by Trump about Ukrainian corruption, including the American leader’s claim that Ukraine was the “third-most corrupt country” in the world. Zelensky said that was “not true.”
“When I had a meeting with President Trump, and he said that in previous years [Ukraine] was such a corrupt country, I told him and was very open with him, I told him that we fight with corruption, we fight each day,” Zelensky said. “Please, please stop saying that Ukraine is a corrupt country, because from now, it’s not true. We want to change this image.”
Zelensky, a former television comedian who was elected last year by running on an anti-corruption platform, said he is trying to “change the image” of Ukraine as being a corrupt country.
Zelensky found himself at the center of the impeachment effort against Trump. Democrats alleged the president improperly pressured Ukraine to announce investigations into his political rivals, including former Vice President Joe Biden, while withholding military aid and a White House meeting.
One of the key elements of impeachment was a July 25 phone call between Trump and Zelensky, which was the subject of a whistleblower complaint against the president. A transcript of the call was later released, and Trump defended the conversation by calling it the “perfect” call.
Trump was acquitted of two Ukraine-related articles of impeachment in the Senate earlier this month.
Despite the controversy, Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine maintains a “very good relationship with the U.S.” and said he is “ready for the next call with Mr. Trump.”
