So, you brought sun. It's good.
Yeah, I brought it. The weather's been great since I've been here.
So, are you planning on releasing this interview or can I release the interview? Because it's very unexpected. I was hoping to ask you to do a sit down interview, but this is actually the perfect location to do it.
I'd be happy to release the interview in full if you allow me to.
I think I don't know. I think that our teams will speak about it.
Yeah. How to do it? You will make discussion. I think yeah. But you didn't want to sit. You want to walk or something?
No, this is perfect. I said this is perfect actually. The location's great.
How was the trip? By the way, the trip was very long. Very long. I guess because there's no airspace. There's no way to fly here. So, I had to take the train from Poland which was nice. It's an experience. Yeah, it was fine. New experience.
Yeah. It took like 30 hours to get here though. Took a very long from the United States.
Yeah. The car is not comfortable but quick. Yeah. So, it was a good experience.
I got to see a lot of the destruction when I was coming in. So it gave me a good idea of how much of Ukraine has been destroyed by Russian missiles and drones.
Absolutely. And thank you so much. And I saw by the way very cool video where you are in Lukanovka. Yeah. You went to McDonald's.
I went to McDonald's. Yes.
President Trump's favorite fast food restaurant.
But they destroyed this place and they destroyed so many times. I was there after attacks several times I was there and it's so strong people really I can't even imagine how they live there and of course after alarms they go to bomb shelters but really with children with dogs with animals so it was very sad.
But it's what's really shocking to me and I guess I've been to Israel so I've seen you know people in other countries respond this way as well is just how resilient the people of Ukraine are. Because if that were to happen in the United States, the police would block off the entire street and nobody would be able to access it for safety reasons. It would be like a criminal zone, right? A crime zone. And so it was very interesting to see the McDonald's sign and then, you know, eating my burger and my French fries and my Coca-Cola with a blown out building from a ballistic missile. And people couldn't believe it. I'm sure you saw the comments online, but it's a testament to how resilient people are ordering their food, walking around, going grocery shopping, taking their dogs out.
People, they don't... It's almost like they're so used to it, it doesn't even affect them.
But it's an American business. And I think that a lot of Americans need to see that it does affect our country because, you know, I'll admit I've said some pretty terrible things about Ukraine and terrible things about you as well openly on social media. I mocked you. I, you know, was part of the group of people in the United States who was very frustrated by the state of my country. I'm a Republican. I'm not a Democrat. And so I was very unhappy with the United States sending billions of US tax dollars to Ukraine when our own country is suffering. And so if you could please explain to the American audience, how is supporting Ukraine with US tax dollars America first? And what are the benefits of the United States supporting Ukraine and recognizing the struggle of the Ukrainian people as a struggle of America's future?
Thank you very much. You know first of all about your McDonald's. So it's important first you know it was always for me very important even during first overall cabinet with President Trump I always try just to say only one thing that it's so important for us that American people if they can come if they can find I mean these sort hours yes it's too long but in anyway if they can come and just live with us a little bit one day two days not too much. I understand everybody is busy but that just to live and to see the life to see it's a pity the death to see this difference like you saw here everything is destroyed but after missiles and near McDonald's world and near children are smiling. Yes. So it's the resilience of our people but it's also very symbolic that Russia brought to us this war and brought to but we why we fought the answer with this situation with McDonald's the answer about all the war is that we are not ready to die that even after attacks we want to survive that's all we love where we live with the people whom we love kiss and our children And this is how this is our resilience. Resilience because we love the life.
Yeah. Maybe it's not you know in today's world maybe it's very how to say primitive right.
Naive. Sorry. Yeah. Maybe it's naive. But it's true. And that's why Russia was surprised and the world was surprised why we joined it and defend it because we defended our homes, right? It's not about, you know, big, you know,
Well, we can appreciate your desire to, you know, protect yourself and proclaim your right to survive and exist as a people, but what do you say? What is your message as the president of Ukraine to the people of America who are also just trying to survive? We have nearly $40 trillion of debt in our country. Americans are still trying to recover from Biden inflation. We have closed borders now, but we had an invasion of our country. Over 25 million illegal aliens who came in. There's an estimated 100 million foreigners, right? 65 million illegal aliens and, you know, over 50 million people who could qualify for deportation living in America, driving up the cost of living. And I think when Americans are struggling to put gas in their cars and pay for food for their children, they want to know, why should I care about funding Ukraine? Why should I send my tax dollars overseas? So if you could explain to the viewers how protecting Ukraine ultimately protects America in the long term.
You know at the very beginning of the war nobody was with us really with all respect to partners. I mean it's their internal decision to support or not. It's true. We began the war. Before the war we didn't have any kind of weapon any money from the United States. It's understandable. I mean it's okay. No question. When we defended when everybody in the world understood that Russia will not stop with Ukraine.
So they began this you know massively narratives that Ukraine and others who've been invited to NATO before and it said we've been not in NATO but they you know try to occupy us because they wanted to build USSR Soviet Union. A thing I think between us I think that Soviet Union is the most dangerous enemy for the United States not only for your democracy way of life or all these things what you said for private sector for business and etc. It was during 70 years and it will continue because the most global idea of Putin is to take everything back. Soviet Union republics who've been in Soviet Union past Soviet Union republics and also Europeans of course not the United States it's far from away but the United States has business in Europe influence and etc. It's a global war. Then if Russia will be a Soviet Union again and they had a chance until now they had this mission and idea if they will have I mean if they will have Soviet Union you will get China and Soviet Union the biggest empire the biggest army in the world and they will be really bigger than the United States and it will be dangerous for you goal with multipolarity. Yeah, but I think this is important to understand that Ukraine by ourselves been the wall of all these dreams of Putin that is the first this is during first period and we've got money from the United States but we've got not it's not about it's weapon but it's money in anyway it's expensive for you and expensive for Europe but you paid for this wall. The second point of course with all the things about how to say freedom and etc. I'm not speaking and not even speaking about all these values which are also very important but there is a practical way. This is the wall you paid the wall and that's why they can't get USSR again this and be the biggest enemy for the United States. The second point nuclear weapon nuclear enemy. The second point is after Biden's presidency when the President Trump came he said I will not give you something without money. Yes, it was the new page, the new page of our relations with the United States during the war and he said I will sell weapon to Europe because we all of us is NATO countries and also it's business is big business really and we created with Americans program portal and each day from the first day of presidency of President Trump we bought everything from the United States.
Weapons yes and the United States sold it not only to us to different countries it's business it's good what Americans got back there is a big difference when America sold to us or to some other countries in different continents the difference is next America got the experience all the experience of this war all the generals of the United States they accepted it already I think the President Trump knows it with details. America has exclusive without paying for this experience but their lives. Yes, we paid and this is because of the war. Yes. Not because we wanted it but we have the greatest innovation experience technological drones.
And I know congratulations. I saw this week that the United States just signed their partnership with for drones. I know that at the Pentagon at least I'm a Pentagon correspondent and Secretary of Warheads Seth recently announced that they're actually creating a new position at the Pentagon called the drones are and I think that Ukraine is really leading the way in a lot of the drone innovation and a lot of the drone technology and you said you would be willing to have an exclusive partnership with the United States as it pertains to drone technology. Perhaps you can further elaborate what that exclusive partnership would look like and why is it that you think that you know the United States is I would say somewhat behind Ukraine when it comes to our drone production output. If you look at the numbers the United States is on track to produce about 300,000 drones this year and Ukraine is about to produce 8 million. And personally, I think that that is something that, you know, more Americans should learn about. I think that there's a messaging issue in the communications that I've seen here in Ukraine. And I've spoken with your staff about this extensively. I don't think that the Ukrainians and your office does a very good job at messaging how supporting Ukraine could be America first or how it's beneficial for America's national security. I think that emphasizing more of the you know the this exclusive relationship with drone production could benefit the United States because we've seen that drone technologies and drone warfare is the future and we saw just right before Fourth of July there was an attempted drone attack on the White House and you have civilians now who are trying to buy drone materials on the dark web or they're buying them online or they're buying them from China so that they could make you know just handmade drones themselves to launch attacks in civilian areas. And so, you know, do you foresee that that military partnership expanding? And how do you think that's going to benefit the United States long term?
So, first of all, we want to make the biggest drone deal, especially with the United States. They already have got this experience from us. Then we push and send some kind of sea drones, air drones, long distance drones, middle strike, deep strike, a lot of things just to try and train. I will not tell you sorry I can't share publicly where they tried it and etc. But we did it without any documents because we are partners. Then this experience when we share this experience of modern technological war it when we speak with the soldiers with Americans with generals and officers they said if without your experience for America it they can get to this level I mean this experience this knowledge they had 10 20 years. So America got back absolutely exclusive things. The second point when we will sign bond deal we already signed as you said correctly first step. The second step I want to do it as quick as possible with President Trump.
I know the document almost ready.
So what we know what is very important now you have drones and now already Russians and we have drawn 3,000 plus kilometers and this year we will have 4,000 kilometers next year from 5 to 10. So with all respect so 10,000 it mean that United States is I mean is closer to the potential enemy. Yeah. And it mean so the distance is the second question will be the most important technology. This is what we have and America has great technologies. So our drone deal it's win-win. We will build great factory in the United States. We want to be lines of reductions because drones just can't be in shelter. It's not artillery. It's not missile. You know, drones are changing each 6 months on the battlefield, sometimes each 3 months.
So when you say we, you're talking about Ukraine. Are you saying that the Ukrainian government under your direction is going to send teams of drone manufacturers to America free of charge to help Americans boost their drone manufacturing?
We want to do joint manufacturing and I don't know free of charge I'm not sure because it's private sector but from our side the this idea and of course it's just signing an acception and then private sector will do it together they will make business and etc our goal from the government is not to allow them send it to some dangerous countries right.
Yeah this is very important to hold it for the United States for Europe for Ukraine. That's all.
I want to get into US relations with Ukraine. You've kind of had a tumultuous, you know, experience over these last it's almost been 5 years now, right? Since the war broke out, by the end of this year at least. And so, you know, you've had to deal with the Democrats and the Biden administration when the war broke out. And then, of course, you're now dealing with the Trump administration. You came to the United States a few months ago and you had what was perceived in the media to be not such a great and a great meeting with the president and the vice president. It appeared that you were escorted out of the White House and it created quite a sensation in the United States. But as of recent it looks like your relationship with President Trump and America in general is improving and it's looking like it's you know moving in a positive trajectory. Can you explain how that relationship has transpired over the last few months since your not so great meeting at the White House and why you find yourself in better terms with the president?
No, I think that now our relations are better and really good. We had last several communications already and they've been positive and very productive. I love when really when leaders can meet and when we can meet with president and have some outcome some result not only that we support and we support we thank you and we thank you I mean this and etc. Yeah. True.
But it really seems like the tone has changed since your visit when you got yelled at by the vice president in the Oval Office and and the media was reporting that you know you were asked to leave. And so my question to you is what happened because it seems like the relationship has greatly improved. Is there something that you could share with the viewers about maybe your conversations with the president and conversations are better?
Absolutely changed. You are right that the tone has changed. Absolutely. We had first like changing moment in Rome in Vatican.
Yes. It was not long meeting but I always said that is I think historic moment because we changed the relations during 15 20 minutes. So nobody was around us. We've been only two of us and I was very happy to hear president and I hope and I was and he called me and I heard him and I think it was let it be between two of us but it was very good we come down and it very good and I'm so happy because a lot of lives depends on such relations and dialogue and then we had meetings in G7 then we had meetings in NATO in Ankara in Turkey and G7 in France and and I think in the United States I sorry and yes in some conversation by four by the way good conversation very good I think that the pres first.
Well I mean you just had General Kaine speaking before the Senate the other day he was asked by Senator Kennedy I believe general who do you want to win the war Ukraine or Russia and he said he said Ukraine and then you add Secretary of Warhex inside the Oval Office, you know, giving everybody a lecture about how Russia and Iran are not our friends. And so, we saw that about a week or so ago, President Trump after the death of Senator Lindsey Graham tweeted that he wants Iran to be added to the Russia sanctions bill. And by posting that on Truth Social, it seems like the president is willing to sign that Russia sanctions bill when it reaches his desk. So, how does that make you feel? And why do you think the American people should get on board with a Russia and Iran joint sanctions bill?
First of all, I think that president exactly understood that who really doesn't want to stop the war. I think so. So he I mean this not even not this way. So he understood that we want to stop them.
He understood that we really want peace. That there have been before a lot of voices that Ukraine doesn't want to stop and they said, 'Of course, we want to win, right?'
Of course, it's understandable. We are people and we are right on our land and etc. But first of all, we are focusing on the human lives. So if tomorrow we can stop the war to make ceasefire it's better than to fight 10 20 years for the victory and to lose your people right.
Of course ceasefire is better.
And I think that President Trump begin to trial to trust me and this is was important and I think this is the key when you ask what how how the tone changed and I think that that was the key I don't know in what moment maybe in Rome. But step by step I tried to explain and I think that he understood me very well. So and you said something something else also.
He posted on Truth Social idea.
I said do you think that Americans should encourage their law to support the Russia and Iran sanctions?
Lencia really was involved to this bill and he was I didn't I don't remember about two year one year and a half something like this and and I think the idea of President Trump to join the sanctions on Iran right we support this idea of course this is very good idea I think that this idea is strong because you can join maybe different people in Congress Senate you can join people who are somebody is supporting Iranian sanctions, somebody is Russian sanctions. So this is the idea if if I understood well right. Sorry.
So I want to transition now into why I'm in Ukraine and my concern with Russian propaganda. I'm just going to be very honest with you. So you might be offended by what I say or what I'm asking you, but I think it's really important to have this conversation. I was very anti-Ukraine. I said that I didn't have a problem with Vladimir Putin. I was very angered when you came to the United States in 2020, believe it was 2023 or 2024 and you campaigned with Democrats and you there was an image of you and there was video of you signing I believe it was either a rocket or some type of drone in a factory in Pennsylvania and you were campaigning with the Democrats in Pennsylvania. Do you think that you were ill advised by your advisers and do you regret campaigning with Democrats in the United States or do you think that you were set up to participate in campaign events with the Democrats?
I didn't really I really we didn't think about it. I didn't know anything about it. I didn't want to be involved to any campaign. Even in September, I was in New York. I was and had meeting with President Trump in September. I think before it was 4 months or something like this before he was elected. No it was it was not about politics and elections I came to the I came my team they prepared a factors I needed very much artillery rounds we had def now we have prophecy but we began to produce it but those time it was a big problem I have a deficit with NATO standard artillery around 155 caliber so we didn't have it was a big problem huge problem I tried to find and find solution that we will produce in Ukraine to have some licenses or to buy and I asked Europe and I was in different factories in Europe in Germany in Czech different countries in France and also I was in the United States was not just United States it was also United States I came to Pennsylvania there they have this factory art factory believe me if I knew that this is something connects with the with the elections. No, of course I.
Pa Harris and Josh Shapiro. But now looking back, now that you realize that they use that opportunity to make it seem like you were campaigning for them. Do you regret participating in that experience because that's one of the reasons why a lot of Americans came to dislike you?
No, I didn't want to be to be involved to any.
So do you regret that that meeting took place?
Not agree that I was because I think that I'm involved maybe I mean this I don't know I really sometimes people want to use opportunities and this is elections and this is the war but I even that what I wanted to say to you that nobody could tell me that I can't meet in New York was with President Trump when he was a candidate. Yes. They also Democrats could say that look you're now in the campaign because in September and the elections will be only the result will be only in January. So I'm not so I don't agree that me personally I maybe situation but me personally was involved to elections in Pennsylvania or I was other side was involved to elections in New York. I couldn't support any candidate and that's I had official visit those.
Yeah. Just I just want to convey because I think sometimes you know I saw that there were some internal polling from Ukraine that showed that only 17% of Ukrainian people have a favorable view of the United States which I'm confused it's not higher because we send them so much aid in defense against Russia and also the opinion towards Ukraine and the United States is not very favorable and so I just wanted to share with you as somebody who was anti-Ukraine and who did consume a lot of Russian propaganda. I used to write articles for RT. I wrote about five articles for RT and I regret doing so and I've come to realize that I was bamboozled by Russian propaganda and I came to believe a lot of untrue things about Ukraine. I used to think that this was a country full of Nazis. I'm just trying I'm just trying to convey to you how sometimes optics if things are not done in a very precise manner how it can be conveyed and how much damage can be done to your country's image if because the Democrats I think they really exploited your visit. I want to ask you.
But can I tell you honestly? Yes. Honestly, sorry. Sorry for this what I tell you. What I will tell I think if I knew or if I really could be involved to elections, maybe Democrats could have a little bit better results.
Well, we don't want that.
We don't want that. We don't want Democrats with us. Understand.
I think that I'm just joking.
We I mean I think President Trump, who do you think is a better president, Donald Trump or Joe Biden?
