Zelensky has three very powerful reasons to say that Trump had not pressured him:
- Zelensky was elected on an anti-corruption agenda. Publicly acknowledging pressure from Trump could cast doubt among the Ukrainian people regarding his motives if he moved forward with the requested investigations. It is reasonable to think that he may have believed that he needed to do those investigations to ensure Ukraine’s safety.
- Ukraine is dependent on military aid from the United States. If Trump had demonstrated that he had the power and the will to stop the flow of that aid, Ukraine’s survival could depend on Zelensky staying on Trump’s good side.
- Russia is watching all of this like a wolf watches a flock of sheep, looking for any sign of weakness. Zelensky and Ukraine benefit by giving the appearance that all is normal in the U.S.-Ukraine relationship, and there are no weak links that can be exploited by Russia.
For more info, visit Trump-Ukraine Central
– rob rünt
The Week In Trump 