Summary of the interview
1. Content. A significant portion of the interview (both questions and answers) was dedicated to the topic of security guarantees, which is indeed appropriate. This is crucial as it serves as a necessary component between the cessation of hostilities and the journey towards a sustainable peace. This is genuinely important for us. The halt of active warfare is merely the beginning of the path to peace. However, the nature of the conditions and whether they foresee a long-term vision for security will determine the possibility of achieving a stable and just world.
2. Audience. The interview's initiator, Lex Friedman, announced his intention to also record an interview with Putin and then return to Kyiv, aiming possibly to help identify "points of contact" for potential future negotiations involving Trump, Putin, and Zelensky. This was partially felt in certain questions. Vladimir Zelensky primarily addressed a Republican audience, trying to convey the details of Ukraine's position, emphasizing that there should first be a meeting between Donald Trump and himself, and that Europe's stance must also be considered. In other words, he spoke about the necessity of a unified position between Ukraine and the West before any potential negotiations with the Russian Federation.
Overall, this interview reflects (when considering American attention) the words written by Kit Kellogg after the massive Russian attack at the end of 2024 during Christmas: "The U.S. is studying the actions of both sides."
Regarding the use of profanity, I do not support its inclusion in public interviews with officials. Nevertheless, there has been an excessive reaction to this element from the entire interview in the Ukrainian segment of social media.