President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky stated that he had wanted to become popular in the United States as an artist, not as a result of his phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump.
"I'm often asked around the world about [Donald Trump's] impeachment [process]. In my previous life, in my previous profession, when I was a producer or a screenwriter or an actor, I dreamed of getting an Oscar, I sought to become very popular in the U.S. I am now president, and very popular in the USA. But, listen, I didn't want that. That's not the kind of popularity I'd been seeking," the president said jokingly, speaking at the Munich Security Conference.
Zelensky also joked that with this experience, if necessary, he was ready for another telephone conversation with Trump.
"We have a very good relationship with the United States, and I'd like to thank everyone who has contributed to this – the president, the senators, and ordinary Americans first and foremost," he said.
Zelensky also thanked the United States for its support to Ukraine during the war.
According to UNIAN, an investigation into the possibility of Trump's impeachment began in the United States in September 2019 after an intelligence whistleblower filed a complaint about the alleged pressure U.S. president supposedly put on Zelensky in order to affect his possible rival in the 2020 elections, Democrat Joe Biden.
On December 19, the House of Representatives announced impeachment on two charges: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
The allegations were based on the freezing of military aid for Ukraine in the summer of 2019 and evidence that the president demanded that Kyiv investigate into Biden's son's activities in Ukraine.
The obstruction of Congress charge was based on the White House's refusal to testify and provide documents related to the investigation.
On February 6, 2020, the U.S. Senate acquitted Trump of both impeachment charges.