Phone call between Ukrainian President and US regarding energy plant

US President Donald Trump. Photo: AP

President Donald Trump told House Republicans that he did not want to have a phone call with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in July, and only agreed to talk at the urgent request of Energy Secretary Rick Perry.

"Few people know that I did not want to talk to Mr. Zelensky. The only reason for the call was that I was following Rick's request, regarding the natural gas liquefaction plant," Axois quoted President Trump as saying.

According to Axois, when talking more about US Energy Secretary Rick Perry, the White House boss said: "Everything will be clear in the next few days."

On the other hand, President Trump continued to repeat the same things he had stated before. Mr. Trump called this a perfect call and emphasized that he did nothing wrong during the conversation.

Therefore, according to Axois, President Trump may be trying to find any reason to escape the accusations related to the phone call, or "kick the ball" to Energy Secretary Rick Perry, who is planning to resign next November.

Regarding President Trump's statement, Sahilene Hines, a spokesperson for the US Secretary of Energy, said: "Secretary Perry fully supports and calls on President Trump to have a phone call with the Ukrainian leader to discuss issues of energy security and economic development in Ukraine. Because the Secretary believes that it is necessary to strengthen energy security in the region, as well as the energy sector of Europe, including Ukraine."

It is worth noting that, according to the content of the phone call released by the White House, Ukrainian President Zelensky discussed with President Trump the purchase of US oil and the desire to cooperate with Washington on energy independence, but the two leaders did not discuss the construction of gas pipelines.

Politico reported on October 5 that Secretary Perry had asked the Ukrainian President to end corruption and expand oversight of Naftogaz. Many US media outlets emphasized that the Energy Secretary had not asked Ukraine to launch an investigation into former US Vice President Joe Biden, the leading Democratic candidate and rival of current President Donald Trump in the upcoming election.