HIBAPRESS
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky affirmed that the choice of political leadership in his country belongs to Ukrainians alone, in response to US President Donald Trump's call for his replacement.
Zelensky said in an interview broadcast by the American network "ABC" on Sunday, that the Ukrainian people have the right to choose their officials, adding: "With all due respect to President Trump, it is the right of our society, our people, to choose this official or that."
The Ukrainian president renewed his call for a 60-day ceasefire with Russia, considering that this truce would allow for elections in his country. He also rejected holding Kyiv responsible for the rise in fuel prices, pointing out that the increase is linked to the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Earlier on Sunday, Zelensky announced his country's readiness to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries, on the condition that Moscow stops its strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
In Berlin, German Foreign Minister Johann Wladimir confirmed his country's support for Zelensky and the Ukrainian government, in response to Trump's call to change the Ukrainian president, calling instead for increased pressure on Russia to resume peace negotiations.
Wladimir said that Germany continues to support Ukraine and its government, emphasizing support for Zelensky in performing his duties, during a leadership meeting of the conservative Christian Democratic Union party, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The German minister stressed the necessity of maintaining consistency and clarity in the position supporting Ukraine, considering that the current stage requires intensifying pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to push him to negotiate, rather than easing it.
The German positions come after Trump's call on Saturday to replace Zelensky and his criticism of Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure. The US President had announced last week a deal to import diesel from Russia.
Germany, which is the largest European donor to Ukraine, affirmed its adherence to the sanctions imposed on Moscow, despite the US administration's announcement of a temporary lifting of sanctions on Russian fuel.
In the same context, a spokesperson for the British Prime Minister's Office said that Prime Minister Andy Burnham had a phone call with Zelensky on Saturday and assured him that London would continue to tighten sanctions imposed on Russia.
