Ukraine's Zelensky, irked by interpreter, translates own comments

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gestures during a press-conference with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Lviv, Ukraine.

PHOTO: AFP

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LVIV, UKRAINE (REUTERS) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, irked by a translator's failure to interpret his comments properly into English at a major news conference, on Thursday (Aug 18) took over the job himself.
Zelensky - who prefers to speak Ukrainian in public - acted after the interpreter cut short his remarks during an event with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Turning towards the interpreter, he said pointedly: "And I said about the window of possibilities. I said that it couldn't be solved because... we see each day guns and firing from the Russian side."
He continued: "And I said 'Slava Ukraini' (Glory to Ukraine)."
"Glory to Ukraine," the translator quickly replied.
"Thank you so much. It's important," Zelensky said with evident irritation.
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