Today at 13:09
Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave interview to Lex Fridman. The Ukrainian vision of a just peace, which is essential for everyone in partner countries to understand, was shared by President Zelenskyy. He spoke about the strength of the Ukrainian people, the roots of Russia’s criminal aggression, and Ukraine’s readiness to collaborate with President Trump and all partners to establish a reliable and lasting peace.
Zelenskyy commented the interview:
“For the first time, an in-depth, almost three-hour interview for a renowned American podcast. Meaningful answers to tough questions and a Ukrainian perspective on a just peace that all partner countries should understand.
I spoke about the strength of our people, the roots of Russia’s criminal aggression, and Ukraine’s readiness to collaborate with President Trump and all partners to secure a reliable and lasting peace.”
Zelenskyy Emphasizes Need for Reliable Security Guarantees for Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stressed that Ukraine needs reliable security guarantees to end the war—not just “on paper.” He referred to the Budapest Memorandum and pointed out that its guarantors once showed complete disregard for Ukraine.
He mentioned discussing the Budapest Memorandum with the U.S. president-elect, stating, “We haven’t finished this conversation yet; we will continue it.”
Zelenskyy described the history of security guarantees for Ukraine as a “train filled with scrap paper,” with the Minsk Agreements being the second car in that train.
“Give me two things: strengthen us with weapons, or better yet, strengthen the conditions so there’s no war at all. It’s not about weapons first and foremost. I asked them for sanctions—to intimidate him. Don’t say, please, ‘If he comes, if he crosses the borders, if he starts killing.’ That’s nonsense, sorry,”
Other key points from interview:
US President Donald Trump may become the first leader to fly to Ukraine by plane.
“He is completely deaf”, — Zelenskyy about Putin.
Even if he talks to you, he is essentially a deaf person. Your guys interviewed him. And he told them about the history of the tribe. That is, a Russian person in a world where Musk, technology, Mars, artificial intelligence… And this one stands and talks about tribes, you know, — said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Lex Friedman at the beginning of the conversation said that after the meeting with the President of Ukraine, he intends to interview dictator Putin, and then come to Kyiv again.
Putin is like Voldemort — he feeds, is nourished and lives by being subjectified, — Zelenskyy.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy on how he sees the scenario of negotiations after Trump’s inauguration:
On January 25, we sit down with Trump and talk about how we can stop Putin. After this and security guarantees, there can already be a conversation with the Russians.
In the early days of the war, Lukashenko sought forgiveness and claimed he was not responsible for missiles being launched from Belarusian territory, Zelenskyy said.
“On January 25, we are meeting with Trump to discuss how to stop Putin. Only after that and obtaining security guarantees can there be talks with the Russians,” – Zelenskyy stated.
“I really hope Trump will be able to end the war. I believe our people support his idea. It seems to me that Trump’s goal is not to lose Ukraine. He has all the capabilities to stop Putin and provide Ukraine with strong security guarantees,” he said stated.
North Korea may send another 30-40 thousand soldiers, and even half a million, to the war against Ukraine, – Zelenskyy
🔹North Korea’s losses in the war against Ukraine amounted to 3.8 thousand people killed and wounded.
🔹If oil becomes cheap, Putin will not have so much money for the war:
It is in the interests of all reasonable people that there is no Russian energy on the market. American oil, American gas? Fine. Why not? It will be cheaper for the world. This will be money for the United States.
🔹Putin loves not his people, but his entourage.
🔹After the occupation of Donbas and Crimea, Ukraine sent a request for consultations to the guarantors of the Budapest Memorandum three times over several years, as stipulated in the document, but it was ignored.
🔹I don’t care what will happen to Russia after the war, but there must be punishment for crimes.
If Trump leaves NATO, Putin will destroy Europe, – Zelenskyy
🔹The largest army in Europe is precisely the Ukrainian one. The French are in second place – it is four times smaller: 200 thousand against 980 thousand Ukrainian, the Ukrainian president said in an interview.
🔹 I think that we can end the war in 2025.
🔹Russia will apologize because they are guilty. Both those who participated and those who remained silent are guilty.
🔹 The war can be ended in the format of dialogue. But for this, a strong position of Ukraine and the desire of the other side are needed. Today, Putin does not have such a desire, and all assumptions about the possibility of negotiations on the part of the Russian Federation are just the ideas of certain people.
🔹 Zelenskyy would like to attend the inauguration of US President Trump on January 20, but only if invited by him.
Read also: The USA intends to sell Israel $8 billion worth of weapons – Axios
