Zelensky denies Trump tried to 'blackmail' him

Ukraine leader tells marathon news conference he felt no pressure in call

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday said there was no blackmail threat directed at him in a controversial phone call on July 25 with his US counterpart Donald Trump that sparked an impeachment inquiry in the United States.

Zelensky made the remark and was repeatedly asked about his relations with the Trump administration during a marathon news conference that lasted more than 14 hours in the Ukrainian capital city of Kiev with rotating groups of reporters.