Secret location
On February 23, Hahn received a message from a Ukrainian journalist with the registration form for the press conference. “That’s how I knew this press moment was here.” He then applied and was welcome. ‘We were supposed to meet at a place that we were supposed to keep secret. Only after the press conference was over were we allowed to communicate where we had been.’ Press time finally took place under the InterContinental Hotel in Kiev. ‘There is a huge bunker under that hotel.” But for that the reporters had to gather in a different place and then all go to the hotel.
How did so many journalists manage to keep the location a secret? According to Hahn, this is an unwritten rule. “And you also know that you can be deported if you take it out.” The fact that the location was to remain secret had to do with state security.
The press conference
During the press conference, Hahn was in row number three, so very close. Zelensky arrived as something of a celebrity. There were many photographers and cameras. He sat in a chair with his publicist next to him who gave everyone a shift.’ Each reporter was given a sign that they could get up to ask a question. He answered all questions very openly. And if he didn’t know an answer, he’d put his fascination with him into action and get it anyway.” There were journalists from many different parts of the world, Australia, South America, Asia, America and Europe. ‘Also the questioning rounds were a bit split like that and I was unfortunately unlucky about that. I couldn’t ask a question.’
“Zelensky really talked about everything. But the press conference was marked by a year of independence. And so not a year of war. Of course he says something.’ Hahn says parts of Ukraine are occupied. But not Kiev. “That was the vibe there, and I really savored it there.” The Ukrainian president also discussed the roles of various countries, such as China, Turkey, Israel and of course Russia itself. “He got a lot of substantive questions about the war, but also questions about how he and his family are doing.”
An article on the content of the press conference will be online later today.