Zelensky says US did not warn him about defence leak
Washington, 3 May 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the Washington Post newspaper that the US government had not informed him of the publication of explosive intelligence information online.
"I did not receive information from the White House or the Pentagon beforehand," Zelensky told the US newspaper in a wide-ranging interview published on Tuesday. "We did not have that information. I personally did not. It's definitely a bad story."
A trove of classified Pentagon documents have been circulating on the internet for weeks after being posted in a chat group on the Discord app.
They contain information, among other things, on the war Russia is waging against Ukraine, as well as details on alleged US spying operations against partners.
US media first reported on the leak in early April.
A 21-year-old military officer is suspected of having published the documents in the invite-only chat room. From there, they are said to have spread until they also came to the attention of authorities and the media earlier this month.
The IT specialist is accused of unauthorized removal, storage and transmission of classified material and national defence information. The man was arrested in Massachusetts on April 13.
Zelensky said that the leak "is unprofitable" for Kiev.
"It is not beneficial to the reputation of the White House, and I believe it is not beneficial to the reputation of the United States," he added.
The Post, citing the leaked documents and sources, reported that Washington expressed doubts about the hoped-for success of an expected spring counter-offensive by Kiev to retake Russian-held territory.
In the interview Zelensky said he "cannot risk our state" and US support Ukraine in the conflict by making his feelings known.
"Where I can speak frankly, I do it. But there are high risks," he added.
The US is considered Kiev's most important ally in the fight against Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion over a year ago, and has been supplying military aid worth billions of dollars.
Photo: MIA archive
