Latest news with #Zel
Daily Mirror
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'I visited Rafael Nadal's hotel and couldn't believe what it was like'
Active wellbeing is a growing travel trend and there's no better place to get involved than at lifestyle resort Zel Punta Cana, which was recently opened in Dominican Republic. Part of Meliá Hotels and Resorts and created in collaboration with tennis legend Rafael Nadal, the luxurious Caribbean resort offers an idyllic escape with excellent facilities – including a top class tennis centre, naturally. With outdoor pools, a fitness centre and a peaceful spa, we found it to be a real treat for both mind and body. After a warm welcome on arrival, Zel quickly felt like our home away from home – an ethos the resort really prides itself on. Every corner has been meticulously designed to create a serene setting, from the indoor-outdoor dining concept to the plants in orange stone pots and the rattan lamp shades. Our Zel Suite was beautifully decorated, with wooden beams, a palette of orange, cream and blue, warm lighting and abstract woven wall art. The room was airy and bright, with a walk-in wardrobe, a sprawling bathroom with double sinks, a spacious living area and a chic kitchenette. Our private balcony had a seating area as well as a bathtub tucked away in one corner. And we didn't have to worry about losing our room keys as our handy wooden bracelets unlocked our suite. We enjoyed breakfast in the Mediterranean style buffet restaurant Parda, even sipping juice from coconuts cut straight from the palm trees. Zel's Mexican-Greek fusion restaurant Tacorini quickly became our favourite lunch spot, where we tucked into crispy fish tacos, Greek salads and passion fruit mojitos next to the pool. At Neguri, the beach club, guests eat lunch with their toes in the sand. And in the evenings, we indulged in Japanese-inspired dishes at Nokyo. It's fun to watch the chef's culinary acrobatics and the sushi platter and seafood pad Thai were standouts. Head to Silvestre for fine wines with a delicious cheese and cured meat board. With ambient lighting and an elegant interior, the setting is idyllic. A stay at Zel wouldn't be complete without hitting some balls at the tennis centre, and we got a sneak peek before it opens this September. With five tennis courts, four padel courts and six pickleball courts, we served, sliced and smashed our way round the court surrounded by palm trees. We tried some of the other activities on offer and a real highlight was experiencing the thrill of gliding across the waves on a Hobie Cat catamaran. We also laughed our way through a 'pound class' in which we tapped, beat and waved drum sticksaround to music. We tried aerial yoga and paddle yoga, enjoyed a cycling tour through the sprawling resort and braved ice baths to rejuvenate both our body and mind. In between, there was plenty of time to lounge around by the outdoor swimming pools and we hopped in the resort's buggy to nearby Bávaro beach, where we enjoyed the clear waters and sugar-white sand. We also indulged in a massage at AUA spa, so our stay was a perfect balance of sport and relaxation. Rates at Zel Punta Cana start from £299 per night on an all-inclusive basis – see to book. British Airways offers direct return flights from London Gatwick to Punta Cana from around £607.
Cosmopolitan
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Zel Punta Cana review: Rafael Nadal's wellness resort tested
Anyone feel like they can't move for wellness content right now? If it's not morning Pilates followed by a smoothie on Stories, or marathon training dominating my TikTok For You page, then it's couples sweating it out at a bootcamp in Ibiza. Think: back-to-back HIIT classes, green juices, and lights out by 9pm... not exactly how I remember doing Ibiza. It seems wellness has deeply woven itself into every aspect of our lives, spanning far beyond our day-to-day routines and into our holidays too. It's no longer something we leave at home, as evidenced by reports that suggest the wellness tourism industry is set to be worth a staggering $8.5 trillion by 2027. Clearly, our wellbeing is proactively shaping where we go – and what we do once we're there. As someone who works out regularly but still wants their holiday to feel like, well, a holiday, I wasn't sure where I fit into all this. I enjoy a morning gym session, sure, but I also want slow breakfasts, long lunches, poolside naps, and the freedom to switch off my alarm. So when I heard about Zel Punta Cana, tennis legend Rafael Nadal's new all-inclusive resort with Meliá in the Dominican Republic, I was intrigued. It promised a more relaxed take on wellness: workouts if you want them, cocktails if you don't. I set out to see whether a fitness-friendly trip could actually feel like a proper break, not a bootcamp in disguise. Here's what I found after my six days at Zel Punta Cana... Zel is a lifestyle hotel brand from Spanish group Meliá, created in partnership with Rafael Nadal, with existing locations in Mallorca and Madrid (and more on the horizon – watch this space). Its latest opening, Zel Punta Cana, brings the brand's signature mix of Mediterranean style and mindful movement to the Caribbean coast, with a promise to help guests unleash their inner athlete. Active wellbeing is at the heart of everything here. From my recent stay, I can confirm Zel Punta Cana ticks all the tropical escape boxes – beachfront setting, two palm-lined pools, garden suites with direct access to the water, and six standout restaurants, but what sets it apart is the sheer range of health and fitness-focused activities on offer (more on those below). This is far from your average all-inclusive. You can plan your day however you like (whether that's five fitness classes or zero) and all classes are included. Extras like tennis lessons or spa treatments cost extra and book up fast, so it's worth booking early. Spa treatments start at £37. If, like me, you're not into hardcore detoxes but still like to keep moving on holiday (I'll take a quick gym session in the morning and a margarita by sunset, thanks), Zel strikes the perfect balance. It's energising without being intense. You can move, you can rest, and you'll feel really good doing both. Book here I started my first full day with a guided walk along the beach. It's about a 15-minute walk from the resort, or you can hop in a buggy if you're feeling fancy. We then stuck by the water for a Hobie Cat sail — which, if you're wondering, is a small catamaran-style boat (I had to Google it too). It was less about actual sailing and more about kicking back and soaking up those dreamy Caribbean views (which suited me just fine). Later, I gave Pound a go, a high-energy workout that uses drumsticks and music to get your legs seriously burning. I'd never tried it before, but it was fun, sweaty, and surprisingly addictive. From there, every day struck its own perfect balance of chill and challenge, tailored entirely to how I felt. AeroYoga definitely tested me; I thought I was pretty flexible, but those poses pushed me harder than I expected. Thankfully, the instructor was great, guiding me through even the trickier moves like the inverted pigeon pose. Then there was BRRN, a slideboard workout where you wear slippery socks and glide back and forth to upbeat music. It sounds easy, but trust me, it really fires up your lower body and was unlike any workout I'd done before. There were also paddleboard yoga sessions, HIIT circuits, and group cycling. The five tennis courts are a major draw at ZEL Punta Cana – no surprise, given this is Rafael Nadal's project. And there's more on the way: the Rafael Nadal Tennis Centre, opening in September 2025, will expand the facilities with four padel courts, six pickleball courts, a gym, changing rooms, and a gift shop. I booked in for a private lesson (currently free of charge), but the courts are also open for casual games at no extra cost if you fancy a rally with your mates. If golf is more your thing, there's a 27-hole course nearby. Meliá guests get 50% off green fees, with a golf cart included. Prices start from around £75 for either 9 or 18 holes. When it was time to unwind, I took full advantage of the spa's extensive facilities (note: access without a treatment costs £37 per person). There's a wide massage menu available for an extra cost, along with fantastic reflexology sessions. I can't recommend the ice bath enough — it's included in the all-inclusive package, and honestly, starting your day with a freezing cold plunge is oddly invigorating. Wellness here isn't just about exercise. I also got hands-on with local culture by painting a traditional Dominican espresso maker, the perfect keepsake from the trip. There were also candle-making classes with a local artisan, which added a lovely creative touch to the experience. Best of all, these classes are included in the price of your stay, so I'd 100% recommend getting stuck in! Booking's a breeze: you get a QR code on arrival to browse and sign up for everything from fitness classes to artsy workshops. Food is, without question, one of my favourite parts of any holiday — so I was thrilled that Zel Punta Cana offers six distinct dining venues, all included in the all-inclusive price. Breakfast was always at Parda, a buffet dream with fresh tropical fruits (I'm still thinking about that pineapple), made-to-order omelettes, and vibrant green juices. For lunch, we alternated between the Mediterranean buffet at Parda, perfect for creating your own salad, and Tacorini, a poolside spot with exceptional tacos and guacamole. My favourite, however, was Neguri, the beach bar. With its laid-back Ibiza-style atmosphere, rattan furniture, and ocean views, it's the ideal place to relax — especially during their late-night DJ sessions. Dinner was equally impressive. Volcán stood out for its smoky grilled meats, while Nokyo offered an entertaining teppanyaki experience with chefs preparing meals tableside. If you prefer something quieter, the à la carte menu is a great option. And when the night calls for it, Voltaje, the lively lobby bar, is the perfect spot for cocktails and dancing. Room rates start from £299 per night, all-inclusive. As mentioned earlier, some activities and alcohol have an additional add-on fee. Zel Punta Cana might feel like a splurge, but the all-inclusive setup means there's a lot rolled into the price. All meals across six restaurants, unlimited drinks (including daily restocked mini bar), and access to a wide range of fitness classes — from paddleboard yoga to AeroYoga — are all included. Even things like open-air cinema nights and creative workshops come at no extra cost. Given the quality of the food, the variety of activities, and the freedom to do as much or as little as you like, it offers great value. The only drawback? Spa access isn't included unless you're booked in for a treatment — a small detail, but worth noting in a place that leans into wellness. Zel Punta Cana genuinely shifted my perspective on what a holiday can be. I'm someone who enjoys a cheeky cocktail or two but also can't skip my daily workout — and this place struck the perfect balance between the two without ever feeling like a strict fitness retreat. What impressed me most was the flexibility it offers. Whether you choose to begin your day with a refreshing run or a yoga session, then spend the afternoon relaxing poolside with a margarita, everything unfolds on your terms. There's no rigid itinerary or intense 'wellness bootcamp' pressure, making it an ideal destination for both a girls' getaway or a couples' retreat where everyone can pursue their own rhythm. Six days honestly wasn't enough time to soak it all in. I left feeling recharged and eager to return, already thinking about when I can go back. Prices for a 7-night stay at Zel Punta Cana start from £299 per night on an all-inclusive basis (not including flights and airport transfers)
Forbes
28-03-2025
- Forbes
Rafael Nadal's New Caribbean Hotel, Europe's Top Wine Destinations And More Travel News
. Meliá Hotels International In 2023, a year before he retired from tennis, Rafael Nadal prepared for life after the sport by launching the Zel hospitality brand with Meliá Hotels. This month, after opening properties in Mallorca and Spain's Costa Brava, the 22-time Grand Slam champion is serving up his third hotel—Zel Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. The 190-suite property has eight restaurants, a spa, beach club and, yes, plenty of tennis courts. 'I have been traveling for 20-something years,' Nadal told Forbes Travel Guide at the hotel's opening. 'I have been lucky enough to visit, probably, the best hotels in the world, and I learned what I like and what I don't like. It's a completely different experience [now].' . air france This spring, Air France is upgrading its first class service, La Première, on selected flights between Paris and New York's JFK. The new suites measure 38 square feet, feature the longest bed in the air (at 6.5 feet) and span five windows to flood side suites with natural light. (The shades also have translucent and blackout options.) Two 32-inch 4K screens will offer 1,500 hours of entertainment viewable from the suite's seat or its chaise longue. As for the cuisine, Dominique Crenn, a three Michelin-starred chef and owner of Atelier Crenn and Bar Crenn in San Francisco provides several options on flights departing the U.S.; another three-star chef Emmanuel Renaut of Flocons de Sel restaurant in Megève creates dishes for flights leaving from Paris. . Paul Allen/Andfotography2 There are many reasons to visit Europe this summer, but great wine makes all of them better. Europe's Best Destinations has just released its list of Europe's best wine destinations for 2025, having surveyed more than 280,000 wine lovers from 92 countries. This year, Plovdiv, Bulgaria —with a 5,000-year tradition of making wine—was named Europe's top wine capital while Spain's La Rioja and Bordeaux, France rounded out the top three. . getty Those thinking about a second passport should consider how powerful it is—meaning how many countries does it allow a bearer to visit visa-free? According to a new report by Astons, the global investment immigration company, Spain has the world's most powerful passport for 2025, with visa-free access to 177 countries, followed closely by Greece, France, Italy, Germany and 10 other nations tied with entry to 176. . Courtesy of Apukka Resort / Visit Finland If they seem a little smug in Helsinki right now, perhaps it's because Finland was named the world's happiest country for the eighth year in a row. The 2025 World Happiness Report ranks more than 140 countries based on a number of factors, including life expectancy, freedom from corruption, and generosity. The other Nordic countries are also on top of the world this year, with Denmark, Iceland and Sweden filling out the top four and the Netherlands ranking fifth. The United States hit a new low in 2025, dropping to 24th, but cheer up, Americans, there's still a lot of real estate to go before we hit bottom—Afghanistan is ranked 147th.
NBC News
28-02-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
The Oval Office showdown heard round the world: From the Politics Desk
Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team's latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail. Happy Friday! Somehow it is already the last day of February. In today's edition, we break down the fallout at home and abroad from today's White House meeting between Donald Trump, JD Vance and Volodymyr Zelenskyy that devolved into a shouting match. — Adam Wollner The Oval Office showdown heard round the world A White House meeting that was intended to kick off negotiations on a deal over Ukraine's rare earth minerals devolved this afternoon into a remarkable confrontation, with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance chastising Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and telling him he wasn't grateful enough to the United States, Rebecca Shabad and Nnamdi Egwuonwu report. The Oval Office shouting match has for now shattered hopes for the minerals deal, which Trump and his allies had presented as an important step forward for Ukraine on the road to peace with Russia more than three years after the war began. A White House official told NBC News that Trump and other U.S. officials felt disrespected and asked Zelenskyy to leave the White House, saying that he was not welcome back on Friday. Zelenskyy abruptly departed and a planned joint news conference between the two leaders was called off. The exchange underscored the tension that has emerged between the United States and Ukraine — along with many of its European allies — over the tougher line that Trump has taken toward the country since coming into office. (More on what this all means for Zelenskyy below.) Vance's role: As Henry J. Gomez notes, it was a comment from Vance that sparked the unexpected, full-blown, high-volume argument for the world to watch. It was a sign of how Vance, who as a senator was known for his opposition to U.S. aid for Ukraine, is asserting himself on matters of foreign policy immediately as vice president. Earlier this month, Vance made waves at the Munich Security Conference with a speech that took sharp aim at other world leaders. And on Thursday, the day before tangling with Zelenskyy, Vance mixed it up in an Oval Office meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer — albeit in a much lighter tone. A source familiar with the planning for the Trump meeting said there was no predetermined strategy for Vance to confront Zelenskyy the way he did. Vance, the source added, felt compelled to respond after finding Zelenskyy needlessly provocative in his demeanor. 'No one expected Zelenskyy to come in there and act entitled,' said this person, who added that the expectation was the Oval Office meeting would go off like a typical bilateral meeting. How Republicans are responding: GOP lawmakers largely rallied around Trump and Vance. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who has been a staunch supporter of aiding Ukraine, said he doesn't know if Trump and Zelenskyy can 'repair the damage' and resume peace talks. 'He either needs to resign and send somebody over that we can do business with, or he needs to change,' Graham said of Zelenskyy. A few more moderate House Republicans, though, struck a different tone. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., told NBC News that the heated exchange was 'a bad day for America's foreign policy.' Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., called the meeting a ' missed opportunity ' for both countries and said 'the only winner of today is Vladimir Putin.' And Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., called the day's events ' heartbreaking ' and said both sides should return to the negotiating table. How Democrats are responding: Democrats universally slammed Trump and Vance, accusing them of kowtowing to Putin. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., said during an interview on MSNBC that 'this is the beginning of the end. Putin starts not only walking all over Ukraine, but walking all over Europe.' An earlier meeting Friday between Zelenskyy and senators was 'very bipartisan and very supportive,' Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., said. Asked about the more rancorous tone in the Oval Office, Whitehouse said: 'That's what you get for letting Vance in the room.' By Kristen Welker The heated clash between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office has raised new questions about the prospects for peace in Ukraine. And it underscored the dilemma facing Zelenskyy as he tries to end his country's three-year war with Russia. Zelenskyy has tried to stress the need for American support, while also warning that Ukraine must be involved in any peace negotiations and that Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted. When I sat down with Zelenskyy earlier this month, he made it clear that the stakes are high. 'It will be very, very, very difficult,' Zelenskyy said when asked if Ukraine could survive without U.S. military support. 'And, of course, in all the difficult situations, you have a chance. But we will have low chance, low chance to survive without support of the United States.' And the Ukrainian president seemed to choose his words carefully during our interview when asked if Trump was negotiating in good faith, saying, 'I hope so. Yes, I count on it. I count on it very much.' But today, Zelenskyy was defiant, with tensions between him and Trump reaching a boiling point at the White House. The confrontation left more questions than answers about the path forward for peace in Ukraine. Will the U.S. still be involved in any potential ceasefire negotiations? Can those talks succeed if the U.S. is not involved? And could Ukraine lose the U.S. as an ally? 'I don't want to think that we will not be strategic partners,' Zelenskyy told me earlier this month. 'I don't want to think about it because it will make a pressure on morale — morality of Ukrainians and it will be worst thing from the very beginning of the war.' Today's Oval Office clash also raises questions about the future of U.S. alliances with its traditional European partners, many of whom rallied around Ukraine. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed solidarity with Ukraine in social media posts after the meeting. French President Emmanuel Macron said, 'I think we were all right to help Ukraine and sanction Russia three years ago, and to continue to do so. And when I say 'we,' I mean the United States of America, the Europeans, the Canadians, the Japanese and many others.' We will explore all of this and more on 'Meet the Press' this Sunday with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.; Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.; and Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla.
The Guardian
11-02-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Zelenskyy: Europe cannot guarantee Ukraine's security without America
If Donald Trump withdraws US support for Ukraine, Europe alone will be unable to fill the gap, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned, on the eve of what could be his most consequential diplomatic trip since Russia's full-scale invasion three years ago. 'There are voices which say that Europe could offer security guarantees without the Americans, and I always say no,' said the Ukrainian president during an hour-long interview with the Guardian at the presidential administration in Kyiv. 'Security guarantees without America are not real security guarantees,' he added. Trump has said he wants to end the war in Ukraine, but sceptics fear that a US-brokered deal could involve forcing Ukraine to capitulate to Vladimir Putin's maximalist demands. Zelenskyy said he was ready to negotiate, but wanted Ukraine to do so from a 'position of strength', and said he would offer American companies lucrative reconstruction contracts and investment concessions to try to get Trump onside. 'Those who are helping us to save Ukraine will [have the chance to] renovate it, with their businesses together with Ukrainian businesses. All these things we are ready to speak about in detail,' he said. Zelenskyy will travel to the Munich Security Conference later this week, where he expects to meet the US vice-president, JD Vance, one of the most hostile towards Ukraine among Trump's inner circle. At last year's conference, Vance, then a senator, refused to meet Zelenskyy, and he has previously said he does not 'really care what happens to Ukraine, one way or the other'. Zelenskyy also plans to meet other members of Trump's team as well as influential senators in Munich, but there is 'not yet a date' to meet Trump himself, he said, although his team is working to fix one. Trump said over the weekend that he would 'probably' meet Zelenskyy this week, and it is possible that the Ukrainian president could fly to Washington from Munich. 'We are hoping that our teams will fix a date and a plan of meetings in the US; as soon as it is agreed, we are ready, I am ready,' he said. Zelenskyy switched between Ukrainian and English to make his points during the interview, conducted on Monday afternoon in a lavishly decorated room inside the heavily fortified administration building in central Kyiv. During the first phase of the full-scale invasion, his communication skills and passionate pleas were credited with forcing reluctant western leaders to back Ukraine with weapons and financial support. Now, in Trump, Zelenskyy faces a new challenge, with a major sceptic on continuing support for Kyiv becoming the leader of the country's biggest ally. In a Fox News interview aired late on Monday, Trump said the US had spent hundreds of billions of dollars on Ukraine in recent years. 'They may make a deal, they may not make a deal, they may be Russian some day, they may not be Russian some day, but we're gonna have all this money in there and I said I want it back,' said Trump. It means that along with Zelenskyy's oft-heard messages about the geopolitical and moral risks of allowing Russia to prevail in Ukraine, he has added some new ones, tailor-made for the US president. Most notable is the idea that the US will get priority access to Ukraine's 'rare earths', a prospect that has piqued Trump's interest enough for him to mention it several times in recent media appearances. Zelenskyy said he pitched this idea to Trump back in September, when the pair met in New York, and he intends to return with 'a more detailed plan' about opportunities for US companies both in the reconstruction of postwar Ukraine and in the extraction of Ukrainian natural resources. Ukraine has the biggest uranium and titanium reserves in Europe, said Zelenskyy, and it was 'not in the interests of the United States' for these reserves to be in Russian hands and potentially shared with North Korea, China or Iran. But there was a financial incentive, too, he said: 'We are talking not only about security, but also about money … Valuable natural resources where we can offer our partners possibilities that didn't exist before to invest in them … For us it will create jobs, for American companies it will create profits.' Zelenskyy said it was crucial for Ukraine's security that US military support continued, giving the example of US-made Patriot air defence systems. 'Only Patriot can defend us against all kinds of missiles, only Patriots. There are other [European] systems … but they cannot provide full protection … So even from this small example you can see that without America, security guarantees cannot be complete,' he said. The first weeks of Trump's presidency have given Ukrainians plenty to worry about. There was the global freeze on USAid projects, which in Ukraine torpedoed hundreds of organisations working on everything from army veterans to schools and bomb shelters. Then, there was Trump's admission in an interview with the New York Post over the weekend that he had already spoken to Putin by telephone in an attempt to begin negotiations. When asked how many times, he said only: 'I'd better not say.' Zelenskyy said it was 'very important' that the US president met a Ukrainian delegation before meeting Putin, but stopped short of criticising Trump for his opaque statements. 'Clearly he doesn't really want everyone to know the details, and that's his personal decision,' he said. Zelenskyy is used to treading carefully when it comes to Trump; soon after he was elected in 2019 he was reluctantly sucked into a US impeachment drama over a phone call between the two presidents. Now, he again finds himself walking a diplomatic tightrope, with Ukraine's survival potentially dependent on the US president's decision to continue support. On the USAid freeze, Zelenskyy said: 'We aren't going to complain that some programmes have been frozen, because the most important thing for us is the military aid and that has been preserved, for which I'm grateful … If the American side has the possibility and desire to continue its humanitarian mission, we are fully for it, and if it doesn't, then we will find our own way out of this situation.' Trump's public pronouncements on Ukraine so far have been fragmented and often contradictory, but one theme that has prevailed is that while he wants to make a deal to end the war, Europe should be responsible for maintaining the peace afterwards. In response, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, has floated the idea of a European peacekeeping force that could be deployed to Ukraine at some point after a ceasefire deal. Zelenskyy said such a mission would only work if it was deployed at scale. 'When it comes to Emmanuel's idea, if it's part [of a security guarantee] then yes, if there will be 100-150,000 European troops, then yes. But even then we wouldn't be at the same level of troops as the Russian army that is opposing us,' he said. Europe is still a long way from agreeing to deploy combat-ready troops to Ukraine, a move that Putin would be unlikely to agree to in negotiations, and Zelenskyy said a softer peacekeeping mission would be unlikely to work unless it came with guarantees that it would stand against Russia if Moscow resumed hostilities. 'I will be open with you, I don't think that UN troops or anything similar has ever really helped anyone in history. Today we can't really support this idea. We are for a [peacekeeping] contingent if it is part of a security guarantee, and I would underline again that without America this is impossible,' he added. If Trump does manage to get Ukraine and Russia to the negotiating table, Zelenskyy said he planned to offer Russia a straight territory exchange, giving up land Kyiv has held in Russia's Kursk region since the launch of a surprise offensive there six months ago. 'We will swap one territory for another,' he said, but added that he did not know which part of Russian-occupied land Ukraine would ask for in return. 'I don't know, we will see. But all our territories are important, there is no priority,' he said. As Zelenskyy turns his attention to Trump-whispering, he said it was still too early to pass judgment on the previous administration. Relations between Kyiv and Washington were said to be increasingly frosty as Zelenskyy's team grew frustrated with Joe Biden's focus on managing the risks of escalation. Asked whether he thought Biden would go down in history as the man who helped save Ukraine, or the man who responded too slowly to meet the challenge from Putin, Zelenskyy laughed and said it was 'very difficult' to say at this stage. He criticised Biden's initial unwillingness to provide Ukraine with weapons – 'this lack of confidence gave confidence to Russia' – but said Ukraine was grateful for all the help that followed. The full evaluation, he said, would only emerge with time: 'History shows that there are many things that you just don't know, what happened behind the scenes, what negotiations there were … it's hard to characterise it all today because we don't know everything. Later we will know, we will know everything.'
