Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Joe Biden’s gaffe, which he described as “President Putin” at the NATO summit in Washington on Thursday, a “mistake” that he can “forget.”
• Read also: Slips of the tongue at the worst possible times: Joe Biden tries to reassure Americans that he is ‘the most qualified’
• Read also: Biden announces ‘President Putin’ as he greets Zelensky, then corrects himself
“It’s a mistake. I think the United States has been very supportive of the Ukrainians. We can forget some mistakes, I think we can,” the Ukrainian head of state said at a news conference at Shannon airport in western Ireland.
Volodymyr Zelensky is visiting Ireland before returning to Ukraine after the NATO summit in Washington.
On Thursday, Joe Biden announced “President Putin” as he welcomed Volodymyr Zelensky on stage.
“And now I want to turn it over to the President of Ukraine, who has as much courage as he has determination. Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin,” the American president said.
Joe Biden, who orchestrated the Western response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, immediately pulled himself together.
He stepped away from the microphone before realizing his mistake and returning to it to say: “He’s going to beat President Putin. President Zelensky. I’m so focused on beating Putin.”
Volodymyr Zelensky met with Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris at Shannon Airport.
“Thank you very much for your support, thank you to Ireland for welcoming many Ukrainian refugees, you were with us from the beginning of the Russian invasion,” the Ukrainian president said.
Simon Harris said he would visit Ukraine “in the coming weeks” and invited Mr Zelensky to return to Ireland for an official visit.
During their bilateral meeting, the two leaders discussed a possible agreement on mine clearance, energy, humanitarian aid and food security, Simon Harris said.