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“The cut’s deep. The doctor here basically told me if I wasn’t so muscular, I might be dead or paralyzed,” Pham told reporters a few months later at spring training.

Following this round of talks, Ushakov held a conference call for reporters.

Zelensky has repeatedly rejected the idea of recognising Crimea as part of Russia, telling reporters on Friday: "Our position is unchanged - only the Ukrainian people have the right to decide which territories are Ukrainian."

The tensions cooled this week, when Trump, a day after a market slide that some analysts tied to the comments, denied to reporters that he ever had any intention of firing Powell.

Trump has continued to stand by his defence secretary and others involved in the incident, telling reporters earlier this week: "Pete's doing a great job ... Everybody's happy with him."