KYIV – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told “Axios on HBO” that he was “shocked” by the pro-Trump crowd that stormed the U.S. Capitol and said he never imagined this could happen in the United States and that it harms U.S. efforts to promote democracy abroad.
Why it’s important: Zelensky’s comments show how the January 6 riots have resonated beyond U.S. borders, unsettling allies and emerging democracies seeking security and inspiration in the U.S.
- In the interview, Zelensky also talks more openly than ever about his 2019 call to then-President Trump, which helped pave the way for Trump’s first removal.
- Zelensky hopes to restore relations between the US and Ukraine under the new administration and with President Biden, whom he has not yet met.
The big picture: The spectacle of the siege of the Capitol left a deep impression on Zelensky and has made him rethink his assumptions about America. “I think this was a big blow to U.S. democracy,” he said, speaking through an interpreter in an interview at his presidential office.
- “We are used to believing that the United States has the ideal democratic institutions, where power is calmly transferred … In Ukraine, we experienced two revolutions … we understood that these things could happen in the world.
- “But could this happen in the United States? No one expected that … I was very worried … I didn’t want you to have a coup.
- “After something like that, I think it would be very difficult for the world to see the United States as a symbol of democracy.”
Between lines: Zelensky finds himself in a difficult situation: caught between a hostile invader in Russia and allies from Europe and the United States, who talks about a good game when it comes to defending Ukraine, but who is often not there when it really counts.
- The vacuum of American rhetoric was fully revealed in 2014 when Russia invaded Ukraine, seizing Crimea and the eastern territories.
- Then-President Obama spoke out strongly against the invasion, as did his point in Ukraine, then-Vice President Biden. But the Obama administration would not send weapons to Ukrainians to defend themselves from their invaders.
Background story: In later years, Zelensky has had to deal with other American betrayals. As the newly elected president in 2019, he hoped to have a productive relationship with Trump. But in his infamous early phone call, Trump was not interested in helping Ukraine.
- Trump was determined to intimidate Zelensky into announcing an investigation into Hunter Biden, the son of his political rival. Trump briefly withheld hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to Ukraine as a lever to pressure Zelensky to announce such investigations.
- Trump ended up releasing aid after members of Congress sounded alarms about his plan, but after that he never bothered with Ukraine again and gave Zelensky a cold shoulder.