Zelensky breaks silence on Biden calling him 'Putin'

YouUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has broken his silence after US President Joe Biden mistakenly called him “President Putin” during the NATO summit on Thursday.

Zelensky met with reporters on Saturday, July 13, shortly after landing at Shannon Airport in County Clare, Ireland, where he was greeted by Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Simon Harris.

Asked by a reporter about Biden’s mistake, Zelensky replied: “It’s a mistake. I think the United States has provided significant support to the Ukrainians. We can forget some mistakes, I think.”

Currently, the United States is providing military support to Ukraine in its war against Russia and President Vladimir Putin, who invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Since the invasion, the United States has committed more than $52 billion in security assistance to support “Ukraine’s efforts to defend itself against Russian aggression, secure its borders, and enhance interoperability with NATO,” according to the Defense Department.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Joe Biden’s ‘President Putin’ gaffe:

“It’s a mistake. I think the United States has provided significant support to the Ukrainians. We can forget some mistakes, I think.”

He spoke at Shannon Airport where he briefly met the Taoiseach. pic.twitter.com/lIxEBGqCHB

— Gabija Gataveckaite (@gataveckaite) July 13, 2024

Biden’s gaffe over Zelensky’s name comes at a crucial moment in his campaign ahead of the November presidential election, with some Democrats calling for his removal. Concerns are growing about Biden’s ability to live up to Donald Trump, heightened by the president’s much-criticized performance in the first debate and subsequent missteps.

Learn more: Inside Andriy Yermak’s Quest for Peace in Ukraine

“I want to turn it over to the president of Ukraine who has both courage and determination. Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin,” Biden said at the NATO summit, which marked the alliance’s 75th anniversary. There were gasps of surprise throughout the room, and some shouted “Zelensky!” to correct Biden.

Biden then corrected his mistake. Returning to the microphone, he clarified: “We’re going to beat President Putin. President Zelensky. I was so focused on beating Putin.”

The meeting between Zelensky and Harris comes four days after a major children’s hospital in kyiv was struck by a Russian missile.