President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that King Charles III helped him improve his relationship with US President Donald Trump and described the British monarch as "very supportive".

Source : Zelenskyy in an interview with The Guardian

Details : Zelenskyy noted that King Charles III played an important behind-the-scenes role, encouraging Trump to support Ukraine more actively after a heated meeting in the Oval Office in February, which took place in front of the cameras, when Trump publicly intimidated Zelenskyy and kicked him out of the White House.

During his state visit to the United Kingdom in September, Trump held a meeting with the King.

"I don't know all the details but I understand His Majesty sent some important signals to President Trump," Zelenskyy said.

He noted that Trump respects the King and considers him a "very important" person, which, in his opinion, is a genuine compliment not given to "many people".

"His Majesty is very sensitive to our people. Maybe sensitive is not the right word. He's very supportive," Zelenskyy said.

The Ukrainian president also stated that, unlike some other Western leaders, he is not "afraid" of Trump and denied reports that their latest meeting in Washington had been tense, adding that he has a good relationship with the US president.

Zelensky dismissed media claims that Trump had thrown battlefield maps during a heated conversation in the White House in October, where he had hoped to secure deliveries of American Tomahawk cruise missiles. "He didn't throw anything. I am sure," he said. He described their relationship as "normal", "businesslike" and "constructive".

According to the Financial Times, Trump allegedly pressured Zelenskyy to agree to the maximalist conditions of Vladimir Putin to end the war and said that the Russian leader would "destroy" Ukraine if it did not agree. Zelenskyy said the meeting unfolded differently.

The Ukrainian delegation that arrived for the visit set up three stands in front of Trump and his team, outlining a series of steps, including weapons and economic sanctions, that would "weaken" Moscow. The goal was to reduce Russia's ability to bomb Ukraine and to force Putin to come to the negotiating table.

Zelenskyy said that "everyone in the world" is afraid of Trump.

When asked whether this applied to him as well, he replied: "No… we are not enemies with America. We are friends. So why should we be afraid?"

The Guardian also noted that just seconds after Zelenskyy sat down to give an interview at the Mariinskyi Palace, the lights went out. When the palace's backup generator switched on, the light returned.

Background :

• In September, Politico reported that King Charles III might influence Trump's position on Ukraine.
• On 17 September, King Charles III expressed his support for Ukraine during a state banquet with Trump.

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