Ukraine's president says not to publish Trump call transcript

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, September 25, 2019. /VCG Photo

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday that Kiev was unlikely to publish its version of a transcript of a July 25 phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, at the heart of an impeachment inquiry in Washington.

The White House published its summary of the call last week. It showed Trump, a Republican, asking Zelenskiy to investigate one of his main rivals in the 2020 election, former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, and his son Hunter, who sat on the board of a Ukrainian gas company.

Democrats say the call proves Trump improperly sought a foreign leader's help to smear a political opponent. Trump calls the accusations a witch hunt.

Trump paints whistleblower's source as 'close to a spy'

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer holds up a copy of the transcript of President Donald Trump's phone call with Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during a press conference in Washington, September 25, 2019. /VCG Photo

Speaking to journalists at an event at a military site near Kiev on Monday, Zelenskiy said he felt it would be wrong to share the Ukrainian summary or transcript of the call.

"Prior to the presidency I was never a diplomat, but I think I have had many such conversations in my life and will have many more," Zelenskiy said.

"There are certain nuances and things which I think it would be incorrect, even, to publish," he said.

Asked whether Kiev would open an investigation into the claims against Joe Biden and his son Hunter, per Trump's request, Zelenskiy said Kiev would not act solely on the orders of other countries.

Source(s): Reuters