A train with waste paper: Zelenskiy speaks plainly on security guarantees in Lex Fridman interview

UKRAINE - In Brief 06 Jan 2025 by Dmytro Boyarchuk

---

Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s interview with Lex Fridman is in the spotlight. The Ukrainian president may have his flaws, but there’s no denying his exceptional communication skills. His conversation with Lex Fridman was a significant media effort aimed at engaging Western audiences. Even after three years of war, a substantial gap in understanding remains about the true nature of this war and what it stands for. The interview addressed highly sensitive topics, including language (countering Russian propaganda claims about alleged pressure on Russian-speaking Ukrainians), World War II (debunking Kremlin narratives that Russia won the war single-handedly, ignoring the sacrifices of millions of people inlcuing Ukrainians, as well as the pivotal role of the U.S.), and the issue of Nazis. Russian propaganda persistently labels Ukrainians as Nazis, justifying Moscow’s aggression as a fight against them with the aim of their elimination. The conversation continues to reflect the peace-seeking naivety often observed in Western perspectives. Lex Fridman repeatedly emphasized the need for a peaceful resolution to this war, even suggesting that Russian ruler Vladimir Putin cares for his country and loves the Russian people. However, Putin's "love" for the Russian people can be measured by the daily "meat assaults" and the staggering number of Russian casualties in Ukraine. As for his supposed care for his country, one might recall figures like Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden who also probably cared deeply for their nations and people. Yet, the U.S. never entertained peace talks with them, despite the damage they caused being far less than the atrocities Putin and Russians have commit...