The embarrassing security breach revealed US concern over a possible Ukrainian counterattack against Russian forces, as well as concerns over the capabilities of Ukraine’s air defenses.
“I didn’t receive any information from the White House or the Pentagon in advance,” Zelenskyy told the newspaper in an interview conducted in Kiev, adding, “We didn’t have that information. Personally, I don’t I haven’t been told. It’s definitely a bad story.”
Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder, speaking to CNN, neither confirmed nor denied Zelenskyy’s assertion, merely noting Washington’s commitment “to work closely with Ukraine and our international allies. to make sure they get the security assistance they need to defend their country.”
US authorities are accusing Jack Teixeira, a 21-year-old National Guard member arrested last month, of posting classified documents on the internet, in the worst leak since Edward Snowden in 2013.
Zelenskyy told the newspaper that Washington ignored his warning: “It’s not good for the reputation of the White House, and I think it’s not good for the reputation of the United States.”
The documents also contained information on Russian and Ukrainian troop losses, details of NATO reconnaissance flights over the Black Sea and reports indicating possible US espionage of Ukraine.
“Anything that provides advance information to our enemy in one way or another will definitely affect us negatively,” Zelenskyy told the newspaper, declining to confirm or deny the authenticity of any of the items. disclosed.
According to the newspaper, Zelenskyy stressed that the great war effort provided by the United States should prevail over his personal feelings.
“I can’t risk our country,” he told the newspaper, adding, “When I can speak frankly, I do. But there are big risks.”
It is suspected that Teixeira posted the documents in early March in a private chat group on social media platform Discord.
The leak raised questions about why a lower-ranking member would have access to such potentially dangerous secrets.
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