Ukraine ready to assist U.S. in Biden case if requested – Zelensky

07.10.2019 14:13

Ukrinform

Ukraine is ready to set up a joint investigation team with the United States to investigate the case of former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, if U.S. prosecutors request cooperation with Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said in an interview with Japanese news agency Kyodo News.

"If U.S. prosecutors request cooperation for an investigation based on international law, in accordance with domestic laws, Ukraine can launch a probe by setting up a joint investigative committee," Zelensky said in the interview.

He also said that "Ukraine must not be embroiled in scandals connected with the presidential election."

Zelensky earlier denied suspicions that U.S. President Donald Trump had been pressuring him or imposing any conditions for their meeting.

A July 25 phone call between the U.S. and Ukrainian presidents about an investigation into the Bidens in Ukraine led to Trump's impeachment inquiry in Congress.

On September 25, the White House released a readout of Trump's phone call with Zelensky.

According to Trump, Biden stopped the investigation against Ukrainian energy company Burisma where his son, Hunter Biden, was a member of the board of directors. Zelensky said he was familiar with the situation and added that a new prosecutor general would "sort things out."

Zelensky later stated that Ukraine had no obligation to investigate or not to investigate a case involving Biden's son.