Zelenskyy says he learned about leak of Pentagon documents from news, not White House

President Zelenskyy said this in an interview with the Washington Post. 

The President of Ukraine assured that he had learned about the large-scale leak of classified documents from the news and had not had any conversations with the White House, adding that their publication had harmed both Washington and Kyiv. 

"I did not receive information from the White House or the Pentagon beforehand. We did not have that information. I personally did not. It’s definitely a bad story. It is unprofitable for us. It is not beneficial to the reputation of the White House, and I believe it is not beneficial to the reputation of the United States," Zelenskyy said. 

When asked if the leak had caused tensions between the two countries to grow, Zelenskyy emphasized that his personal feelings were not worth the potential damage to US support for Ukraine's military efforts.

"I cannot risk our state. Where I can speak frankly, I do it. But there are high risks. If it were my war against [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, and there were two of us on the battlefield, I would tell everyone what I think of them. But here the story is a little different. We are all responsible," Zelenskyy said. 

At the same time, the President of Ukraine refused to confirm or deny the information that the leak contained fake information to disinform Russia. 

"If I answer you, that means it’s sensitive, it means there are real documents. Please, stop playing games with me. I am the president of a country at war," Zelenskyy said. 

• On April 6, the New York Times reported on the leak of classified documents detailing US and NATO plans to build up the Ukrainian army ahead of a planned counteroffensive. The Pentagon launched an investigation.

• On April 8, the Main Directorate of Intelligence reported that the so-called classified military documents on the plans for the Ukrainian Armed Forces' offensive were in fact a forgery and a special operation by Russian special services. Russia could have forged the documents to disrupt Western aid to Ukraine.

• On April 9, investigative journalists from Bellingcat found out that the original source of the leaked classified Pentagon documents on the Ukrainian Armed Forces' counteroffensive was a Discord server. CNN also reported that the Ukrainian command changed some of its military plans after the leak of classified Pentagon documents online.

• On April 14, US National Guard soldier Jack Teixeira, suspected of disclosing classified Pentagon documents, was formally charged.

• Subsequently, the 102nd Intelligence Division of the US Air Force, where Jack Teixeira served and is accused of leaking Pentagon documents, suspended its intelligence activities.

• On April 15, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the Pentagon's data leak had not worsened Washington's relations with its allies.