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Zelensky: iPhone diplomacy helped me a lot in first days of war
KYIV. Oct 13 (Interfax-Ukraine) – President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has said, commenting on his relationship with European and U.S. leaders, that iPhone diplomacy helped him a lot in quick response to the Russian aggression in the first days of the war.
"I did have close relationship with [former UK Prime Minister Boris] Johnson, close [relationship] with [President of Poland Andrzej] Duda, the presidents of Latvia and Lithuania. And these are the people I could call. [President of France] Emmanuel Macron always says – call me on WhatsUp. And we indeed talked to these leaders a lot, not in line with the protocol, but quickly. It was a quick response… It suddenly happened that we also established relationship with [Italian Prime Minister Mario] Draghi," Zelensky said in an interview with the German television channel ZDF.
According to him, this happened, in particular, due to the fact that during a war the head of state is in charge of not only strategic issues, but also micro management.
"A war, especially the war with the Russians, a large and complicated country, dictates us quick solutions. Right now. And it is not only about strategy. Your head if half busy with strategy, and another half has to take tactical steps in response. And when it comes to tactics, it is important who is by your side. Because quick supplies [are necessary], [quick] political decisions are needed, discussions – all this requires not a traditional diplomacy, but, I would call it, an iPhone diplomacy, which our country had never before," the head of state said.
"And I am absolutely open. I asked them – let us talk faster. Instead of appointing phone calls, we should talk to each other quickly," the Ukrainian president said.
Zelensky also noted that he has very good diplomatic relationship with the presidents of the U.S., Slovakia, the Chancellor of Germany, and many other leaders.
"These relationship are as strong as with the countries I have mentioned. I am just saying that there appeared this iPhone diplomacy. It helped me a lot in the first days of the war. I talked to Duda at night and whenever I needed to. And President Biden, by the way, was the first to call me after the attack [on February 24]. I think it was at around 6:20 a.m. I think he was the first to call," Zelensky said.
