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Zelenskiy: Allies 'Can't Go Blocking' Aid at Time of War

Associated Press

   WASHINGTON - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in an
   interview Monday that he didn't speak with President Donald Trump "from
   the position of a quid pro quo" last summer. Zelenskiy says, "That's
   not my thing. . I don't want us to look like beggars."

   Trump later claimed Zelenskiy had said Trump had done nothing wrong.
   But Zelenskiy didn't go that far.

   The Ukrainian leader spoke to Time ahead of the first round of expected
   peace talks with Russia Dec. 9 in Paris -- the two countries have been
   embroiled in war along the Ukraine border for the past five years.

   Zelenskiy, a former comedian turned politician, has been in office for
   barely six months and his conversations with Trump are the topic of
   intense scrutiny in the U.S., with their July 25 phone call at the
   center of the House impeachment inquiry into President Trump.

   Zelenskiy was asked whether there was a connection between Trump's
   decision to block military assistance to Ukraine and the two
   investigations he asked Zelenskiy to do. One was on possible meddling
   by Ukraine in the 2016 elections, the other was about the family of
   Democratic rival, Joe Biden.

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