YouSaid · the spoken record

Volodymyr Zelenskyy

lines on the record: 146
first: 2025-01-06
most recent: 2025-01-06
sittings or episodes: 1
sources: podcast

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“He calls them all Russians, even those who don't know, who don't know how to speak Russian. On his territory of Russia, everything they've enslaved? Yes, proud Varangians. So I wonder is that love? What love is this and for what? Does he love his people? No. Does he love his land? His country is bigger than America How much land do you need? America is huge. America is simply an outstanding country, outstanding country. Russia is bigger. Just So ask yourself Does He love them? What is he doing? And what does he love? Do you think he's been everywhere in his Russia? It's impossible to get around it. He hasn't been everywhere. He just hasn't.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Children, my daughter, my daughter, she She is twenty years old. For me? This is a child. She is already an adult. Of course. But she is a child. The boys, the boys he sends are 18 years old. 18 years old. They are children. He sends them. It's not that fascists came to his land, and he needs to defend it. He came to ours and he sent them Chechnya. He sent them. Syria, he sent them. Africa, he sent them, Georgia, he sent them. Moldova, Transnistria that was before him. Fine, we can leave that aside. He has enough sins of his own. And then there's Ukraine, the largest part of the 780,000. 788,000 killed or Or wounded. Russians”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“No. What is his country? He happened to consider Ukraine his country. What is his country? Explain it. Tomorrow he will say that it's America. No pity for the Chechens? Do they look like Russians? Do they speak Russ Of course. Of course, they learn in schools like anywhere there's been Russification. Who are the Chechens? A different people. Another faith other people another language a million eliminated And eliminated how? How did he kill them? Love? I know fuck by hugging in Ukrainian as we say strangling by hugging. I love you so much. I love you so much that I want to kill you. That's his love. And that's not love. You're mistaken. He does not love his people. He loves his inner circle. It's only a small part of the people. He doesn't love them Why I'll explain. You cannot send Your people to another land They will die”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“So, why do they need NATO when in fact they have more than NATO has? The American, British, and French aviation stepped in and There was ADA. I don't remember from Jordan. Listen, thousands of missiles were shot down that way. This is what is this? So it's a guarantee of safety. It's just that it's not called NATO. Is some Uncle Vova irritated by the word NATO? There's a problem with the word. And I think he's simply irritated by people who are alive and living here.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“You make security guarantees. What I told you, for those who are here and what we control and what will not happen, and that those who lost, we will never forget. And a matter of time. But when you gave us NATO, I just said, this means that after a while, everything I said about NATO, after a while, Ukraine will not go against Russia. And Russia will not go against Ukraine because you are in NATO. I am just saying, is not that a compromise? So NATO is a compromise. This is not just a security guarantee, in my opinion. Look, when rockets were attacking Israel, And Israel is not in NATO. NATO countries' aircrafts were deployed. The air defense worked Operated by Different Middle Eastern countries. These are also security guarantees. And by the way, Israel has nuclear weapons.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Yes, God bless. And this is the most important thing in life. And they simply took away the most precious thing from you, will you ask? Who ruined your life before going to rip their head off? I'm just curious. They took your child away. Are you going to ask who did this? And they will answer that dude did this. You will say, oh, well, then there are no questions. No, no, you will go fucking hell and bite their head off. And it will be fair. Can murderers be forgiven? That's why”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Forgive no one will forgive. This is absolutely impossible to forgive him. We cannot get into the head and soul of a person who lost their family. Nobody never will accept this. Absolutely impossible. I don't know, do you have children? No.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“So, in your understanding, the fact that he is no in jailed after all the murders, he is not in jail assuming all the murders. And no one in the world is able to put him in his place. Send him to prison. Do you think this is a small compromise?”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Then the second you said that energy price and a lot of sanctions on products and the Russian shadow fleet and et cetera. That is the second answer we spoke about before yes, put more sanctions on them. More sanctions. It's okay. Not, but not to take off sanctions.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“In Ukraine or in Europe with India, Saudi Arabia, Saudi and the United States, you need a lot of money. So the question is where you will get it. So my answer was to Trump. I said, this is one of the security guarantees. Take 300 billions of frozen Russian assets. We will take it. Take money, what we need for our interior production. And we will buy all the weapons from the United States. We don't need gifts from the United States. It will be very good for your industry, for the United States. We will put money there, Russian money. Not Ukrainian, not European, Russian money. Russian assets. They have to pay for this. We will put it and we will make it. This is one of security guarantees? Yes, of course, because this is a military guarantee, yes.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“In English yet. You don't even need answers because when you now were talking, you already answered on all the questions. The first one is Is that during this time You need just cooperation, a lot of money for this military industry”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Means, what does it mean Outer values which share Europe. Europe counts. It means that those guys They don't count. A Rahuyut. It's count, yes? They don't count the number of people. That is the answer. Can they move more? Yes. Can they move dozens of thousands? Yes, because we see what they have. Last year, for example, Europe gave us one million artillery rounds. We produced a lot ourselves, but they gave us initiative, it was initiative, one million artillery rounds. Of 155, and etc. Produce more But North Korea gave Putin 3.7, just gave him. So he also has a deficit for today, it means he needs what? He needs time.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“First of all, look at one example. North Korea Just look at this example. 12, Has arrived. 3,800 killed or wounded. They can bring more 30,000, 40, Or maybe 500 They can bring many people. Why? Because they have order, autocracy, and everything. Can Europe bring people together Will Europe be able to build an army consisting of two to three million people? No Europe will not want to do this, and for what? We definitely don't want a world war with you. There is no such purpose. There is no such purpose as gathering everyone. We do not want any war. We want to stop the Russians, and they invite North Korean soldiers. Invited Their faces are burned They themselves burn their faces. Those who cannot escape injured or killed. There's a video, everything I'm telling you, there is evidence of this. So that they are not recognizable, right?”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Just can't remember his armies of millions Calculate what Europe has. What are the largest armies? We have the largest army. The Ukrainian army is the largest in Europe. The second place after us is four times smaller than us Yes, 200,000? I think the French have about 200,000. We have 980”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Will be prepared. He knows all mistakes. He understands how we defeated his army after the invasion began. He realized that this was not a Soviet war and that this would not happen with us. He will prepare. He will let everything into arms production. He will have lots of weapons, and there will be a very large army, and you think that after such humiliation, four years without a war, he did not finish us. He will return and fight only against Ukraine? He will destroy everything around. And if you say there is a risk that Trump, President Trump, will withdraw from NATO, for example. This is a decision of the United States. I'm simply saying that if it does, Putin will destroy Europe. Calculate the size of army in Europe It's just that I say it for a reason. Do the calculation Why did Hitler conquer all of Europe then? Almost.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“He needs to look at all these details, but his vision, please. Because he can stop Putin because Putin is afraid of him. That's a fact. But Trump is a president of a Democratic country, and he does not come for life. He is not Putin, he will not come for twenty five years. He will come for his term. Please tell me Well, for example, he came for four years. And for the fifth year Putin came with a war. Will it make Trump feel better that there was no war during his time and that Ukraine was destroyed after him? Why destroyed? Putin is whoever, a killer, whoever, but not a fool.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“And prepared with those who want peace. Ukraine wants peace, US wants peace. We have to sit down with Trump, and that is 100%. First and foremost, number one. Moreover, he told me on the phone that he is waiting for us to meet, and there will be an official visit. And my visit would be the first or one of the first to him. And for him, this topic is very important. I know that he has his own matters, American issues, I understand. I heard his election program, but regarding international affairs, I think our issue is one of the most pressing issues for President Trump. Therefore, I believe very much, I trust his words, and I hope we will meet again. We need to prepare. We have many plans to build on, and they exist, and they are supported by many countries. But we need his vision.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I wanted to in Ukraine. Society was divided. Not everyone wanted to, half did not want to, half were against, half were in favor. Some of them shouted, Do not believe it, some of them shouted, believe it. I am the president of Ukraine. I was given a mandate of trust by seventy percent of the population. To take appropriate steps, and I made them. This is not a joke. We'll just sit the three of us. I am simply telling you what is. This is how can I tell you. These meetings must be serious and prepared.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Everybody's looking at the US, always, all in favor. So she opposes and she forced everyone not to give Ukraine an invitation to join NATO because that would be a step. Seriously, Republicans were in favor. The US was in favor because Republicans And Bush were not afraid of anyone. They were not afraid of anyone, and they knew that Ukraine rightly wanted to join NATO. She chooses so. And what is the question? Well, people made their choice. Well? And the Russians will not look that way. That was not the case then. Why? Because the Russians were different. Next Mins We didn't succeed After the Minsk agreements, as I told you, hundreds of meetings were held. I have had hundreds of meetings since twenty nineteen. We could not think about a ceasefire, a ceasefire is our offer. This is not somebody's suggestion. This is mine. I would like.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Where the signatories were. The United States of America was no longer there. I understand that Obama was here at the time. And as far as I know, I think they were simply not interested in what happened to Ukraine and where it was in general where it was located. Well, somewhere there. Part of something. People, well, people and let it be. Let it be with these people. The United States simply did not participate In the Minsk agreements. Are no claims to the US because they were not guarantors. Where is the claim? A step back 2008 Bucharest. Everyone has already learned from the Budapest Memorandum. Bucharest two thousand eight Bucharest Mr. Bush President of the United States. Republican says that your Ukraine should be in NATO. This is the voice of Republicans. Check it out. Ukraine should be in NATO.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Letters for consultations have been sent. No one answers Next, we are taking a break from the Budapest Memorandum. The question is simple about Budapest. Can we trust this? No. Whichever country out of these five sat at the negotiating table, just a piece of paper. Believe me we will Save you no. Another. This is a dream. This is a dream with waste paper. With security guarantees, which Ukraine has been riding for many years. Second car on this train is the Minsk agreements, the Normandy format and the Minsk agreements. Where it was written”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Consultations Ukraine holds consultations if its territorial integrity is violated, and everyone should be in consultation. Everyone must come. Everyone must meet urgently USA, Britain, Russia. France, China. Did anyone come, you ask? No. Did anyone reply to these letters, official letters they are all recorded by diplomats? Did anyone conduct consultations? No. And why not? They didn't give a fuck. This is understandable in Russian, right? That as Russia didn't give a damn, neither did, all the other security guarantors of the Budapest memorandum. None of them gave a damn about this country. These people, these security guarantees, etc. We take a break. This will be a Budapest memorandum. The last time with me, imagine how many years it was with me. In February twenty twenty two. In February 2022, the war began. Full scale war.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“These two states negotiated to ensure that Ukraine does not have nuclear weapons. Ukraine agreed. These are the largest states. This is the nuclear five that does not even provide security guarantees. Now we just need to find these people and we just need to put in jail all of those who, frankly, invented all this. So confidence. So confidence, assurance. Assurance that Ukraine will be territorially integral. With its sovereignty It was a piece of paper. If you are curious, by the way, that after occupying part of our Donbass and Crimea, Ukraine sent diplomats three times. I don't think I remember three times within a few years. We sent letters to all security guarantors, to all members of the Budapest Memorandum. What did they send? That what was written on the piece of paper.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“This was in agreement. United States of America, Russia, Britain, France and China joined. There were five states there too. Not even security guarantees. We now understand that this is not a guarantee of security because on the one hand, these are security guarantees, but there was an English word, as far as I understand, assurance It is translated as assurance. Assurance, right? And in Russian, it will be, and what assurance? That is give up nuclear weapons because you were under pressure of Anne Russia For Ukraine to give them up. These two powers were exerting pressure.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Maybe give flowers to Putin, maybe to say thank you so much for these years. That was a great part of my life. No, we are not just ready for this. Why? The Budapest Memorandum Nuclear Weapons, this is what we had. Ukraine used them for protection. This does not mean that someone attacked us. That doesn't mean that we would have used it. We had that opportunity. These were our security guarantees. Why am I talking about this in detail? Because if you take the Budapest memorandum, by the way, I discussed this with President Trump. We have not finished this conversation yet. We will continue it regarding the Budapest Memorandum. The Budapest Memorandum included security guarantees for Ukraine. At first, three. Three. The most important security guarantors for Ukraine. Three, strategic friends. And partners of Ukraine”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Security guarantees, the Budapest Memorandum, Nuclear Weapons are the security guarantees that Ukraine had. Ukraine had nuclear weapons. I do not want to characterize it as good or bad. Today, the fact that we do not have them is bad. Why? Because this is war. Today we are at war. Because you unleashed the hands of a nuclear power. A nuclear power is fighting against us, against Ukraine. and doing what it wants. By the way, even you are now talking about ceasefire, just a ceasefire.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Ukraine needs security guarantees first and foremost. We are in danger. That is why they are called so. This is no joke to me. Let's take a few steps back. Interesting. Why are security guarantees? A strong position of Ukraine, strong weapons, and so on so important, I will give you the Little history lesson, although I think you have prepared yourself and know everything perfectly, well, you can correct me on that Yes. Ukraine had”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“We can talk to the Russians. That's right. Not just three of us sitting down at once And you still talk to me like that. Do you know how as if Putin wants to sit down and talk, but Ukraine does not? This is not true”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“It's the second thing. It won't be long because Europe will be looking at us and we'll be looking at Trump. And by the way, I now see that when I talk about something with Donald Trump, whether we meet in person or we just have a call, all the European leaders always ask, how was it? This shows the influence of people. Donald Trump. And this has never happened before, with an American president, I tell you, from my experience, this also gives you confidence, you know, that he can stop this war. That is why we and Trump come first and Europe will support Ukraine's position. Because they understand that Ukraine has every right to have its voice heard in this because we are at war. Trump and I will come to an agreement. And then if and I am sure that he can offer strong security guarantees together with Europe and then”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I will make it clear. And so, first of all, I think January 25th or some other day, well, you just call it January 25th. And I don't mind, it's my birthday. We sit down First of all, with Trump. We agree with him on how we can stop the war, stop Putin. It is important for us to sit down With Secondly, it is very important for us that Europe Which is very important for us because we are part of Europe. And not only geographically, geopolitically, but also in the European Union where we will be. For us, it is very important that Europe Also has a voice.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“By the way, this is a very sensitive point. How many? How many bomb shelters? How many bombshelters we built with the partners for the children? And it's a pity that they are underground. But can you imagine their eyes? When they came after COVID, you understand what does it mean COVID, but they had COVID and the war. And together they didn't see each other for so many years. And when they saw each other, even underground, they were very happy and smiling. We have such security guarantees. But it's not enough to prevent, yes, preventive measures also work, to prevent the aggression of Putin.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“So, the United States helped a lot. Of course, Europe, USSR, and of course everybody fought everybody, did a lot. But without the United States, it couldn't be. Such I don't use the word success because I think that there is no war which ends successfully because this is a war. Seven-figure losses, heavy losses in World War II, millions of people. And that's why without the United States security guarantees are not possible. I mean these security guarantees which can prevent Russian aggression. Of course, we have security guarantees bilaterally with some countries financing, support of our internal military and defending and humanitarian issues and demining, which is very important and helping our children in the school network.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“No, we don't Guarantees without the United States. That's it because the United States is a very strong, powerful country. The United States puts the point, of course, Putin said that it's just the Soviet Union, where, by the way, Ukraine was the second strong republic militarily. Yes, by the way, but of course always forgets about it. But during the World War II Without help of the United States, support of your troops, support of your industry, industrially, militarily, without your money, without your people, Hitler could. Could”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Think it's very bad for NATO. That's the end. That's the death of NATO. It is a pity because I think that it's a very good alliance. Maybe not everything is good there from the bureaucracy or money, et cetera, but totally countries who are in NATO, they don't fight. There is no war on the land of any of these NATO countries. I think that is the answer. It works or not. It works politically or militarily. I don't know. But it works. So without Trump, without the United States of America, there will not be NATO. That is the first. So, and you say, can we imagine that?”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“There must be punishment for the crime. It is only justice. How come my child was taken away? The war took him. This is very scary, and even whether it was my son who was fulfilling his constitutional duty or simply a missile that struck a civilian child, and if there is no justice and the killers are not punished, why wouldn't these people come back with hate? They will definitely come back. So, when we talk about NATO NATO Is not only stopping Russia Do not forget NATO is stopping us too. Because there will not be justice for everyone. We know that NATO does not have the right to solve certain issues with war. NATO is a security alliance, it is protection, not brainwashing. What Putin claims that this is offensive is not true. NATO is a defensive alliance, a security alliance, and it is security for Russia.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“And he never got justice for real. For example, somebody decides to free support. We won't give you anything. You can't fight. You can't continue. So we stop when we stop without any guarantees, without any support, without financing, without, okay. And nobody is held accountable but the man lost his children. He will not get anything. None of the killers will be in prison. All the sanctions will be removed. And he lost his children. And we have thousands of such people. Why do you think they will not go to Russia? We'll find a way and will not kill the Russian soldiers there or somebody there, why wouldn't they? It's human nature. It's not about us. It's everyone. Read American writers. Always after any war. There is no justice for people.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Putin himself spoke about Russia, maybe about NATO, what you just said is very correct What are the guarantees for Russia? It's not like I'm even interested what happens to them. To be honest, I don't care what will happen to them in the future after the war ends. Ah, but I These are our borders, and we must understand what is going on there. Well, the NATO guarantees for Ukraine. Actually, this is also a security guarantee for the Russians. Frankly, I talked about this many times before. Sorry. I'm speaking figuratively, but as an example, if you were a father who lost his children. A grown man, a grown man, a man, an adult. And the war has ended.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“That's why I said, no, no, he's not right. And you have to begin from this. If you begin at the middle between Ukraine and Russia, of course we can speak like this. You are in the middle and say, okay, what's going on? There is a fight. Where is the fight? It's not the fight like in Europe. When Napoleon is fighting against somebody in the middle of Europe, no, this is not in the middle of somewhere of the planet, not the planet. It's concretely on our land. So one. Country with one army, one person came to another. That's it. It's very clear.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Yeah, thank you. But when I speak with them, when I speak, it's very important. Even with their balancing attitude towards the war, Recognize that this is a war. This is not just internal conflict. This is a full scare war. That began, that Putin began. And all of them, all of them, if you talk to them, they say... But then they all recognize that it's his own. Mistake Putin's mistake and that he's not right.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Okay, can I interview you a little? Question is what land? Is the war happening on? And where did it start? On our soil, on our territory International law was violated, the sovereignty of our country was violated, civilians were killed, tens of thousands of our people were taken hostage, and everyone will tell you this happened. This is what happened. When I speak with the global south, which is trying to balance the two sides because of the history, because of their roots, and because of their shared economic interests with Russia in the past, and now, of course, when you talk to them. They are speaking a little bit like you. I mean, they're balancing a little bit, you know, a little bit in between. But we will work on it. It's our first meeting during the second one. You will be more on our side. But it's just.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“So it will be cheaper for the whole world. The money will go to the United States. And I think he will be happy and the president and your people will be happy. But it's your decision. I'm just sharing. Yes, in cheap oil. So Putin won't have so much money for the war. And that's it.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I'm not ready to discuss this publicly right now. It's all written down. And President Trump might have seen it or not. But we've got no secrets from him. Yes. But mostly depends on the willingness of the United States because some of it will come from the EU, some from the United States. Of course together. So not just from the United States. No, no, no. We need unity with this package. the package and sanctions. Yes, sanctions. But I think it's in the interest of all the smart people to not have Russian energy on the market in general. So he has to stop it. That's all. It's fine. American oil, American gas is okay.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Just so you understand the situation, the invitation to NATO is legislatively issued to Ukraine. So to us, all those territories are still Ukraine. But NATO so far can only act in the part. That is under Ukrainian control. This can be negotiated, I am sure about that. Yes, this would not be a great success for us. But if we see a diplomatic way to end the war, this is one of the ways. So it is. Sorry, that is a start. Secondly, weapons, arms aid package.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Ceasefire works. Nobody will use the weapons. For what? But it has to stay. But with all due respect to the United States and to the administration, not like before, I don't want the same situation like we had with Biden. I ask for sanctions now, please. And weapons now. And then we will see if they started again. Of course, we'll be happy if you'll give us more and you will stand with us shoulder to shoulder. Of course, that is right, but it's different when you have weapons. Putin wouldn't have been able to occupy so much territory. It was very difficult for us to push him out, but we didn't have weapons before, and that is the same situation. It can be the same situation. I'm just sharing this with you. Like I said at the very beginning, I want to be very honest with you and with your audience.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“There is one There is one before ceasefire strong Ukraine's position? Yes, we can speak about it with Trump. For me, we can speak about security guarantees, but a quick step, a quick step is NATO, a partial membership NATO. Yes, I understand. I understand Trump's feelings about NATO. I heard him. He's thinking through all of it, of course. But anyway, yes, NATO is a strong security guarantee for all the people, for us, part of security guarantees. The second part is the arms aid package, which we will not use if...”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Do a ceasefire deal without serious security guarantees for Ukraine, he will give a pass to Putin. Not that he wants to? No, he does not want that. I believe in what he says. But he will give Putin an opportunity, because in Putin's head, he wants me to fight with Trump. Putin's plan is to end the occupation of our territory. This is in his sick head. And I'm absolutely sure of this. That is why I told you don't wait for Putin to want to stop the war. So that he is forced to stop the war. That's important.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Will be in the same situation as I was in 2019 Precisely the same situation. I want to end the war. We want a lasting peace for Ukraine. We must do this. The ceasefire, exchange people, and then diplomatically return all territories, and we will do this through diplomacy. What will happen next with President Trump? If the ceasefire happens without security guarantees, at least for the territory we control, what does he get? If He manages to make a ceasefire deal. And three months later Putin launches a new wave of attacks. What will Trump look like? What will Ukraine look like? What will everyone look like? Putin will just do it. And why would Putin do it? Because today he's afraid of Trump. But once Trump manages, for example”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“We must at least take the first step. If this is a ceasefire, we must know that there is a security guarantee for the part of Ukraine under our control. We need it so that he will not come back. This is very important. And what do we say to the people who live in those territories? These are millions of people. Did you know that since 2014 in Donetsk, in the Crimea, this is happening in Melitopol as well? As in Berdiansk now, they are making all these kids of drafting age go and And fight. And if they don't go, they will be killed. This is, do you understand what's happening? That is why a ceasefire, everything I said. What I wish for, and I believe in President Trump's power to use. All of this information to come up with a way to make Ukraine strong. Be strong. Why am I saying that? I will give you an example. President Trump”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“People who didn't want to work with them, who refused to cooperate with them, people who went on strikes to protest, people who did not want to work with the Russians who occupied Mariupol. And this is one example, just with this city. And I have a And I will ask you in Russian so that you hear this without delay what about the millions of children over there? What if we just arranged a ceasefire without understanding what would happen next? Without understanding, what will happen to Ukraine's security guarantees? What about the millions of children in the occupied territories? What should I tell them? What am I to tell them? What is it I should tell them? What? Whatever? Hey, all of you over there, see ya, and those tens of thousands of people buried there, they were, is that what we want? Are we ready to forgive them for this?”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Illegally occupied either. And to be honest, the United States of America too, everyone was somewhat silent about this issue. That's how it was. It was it was like that before a full scale war. I want to ask you a question about the ceasefire. For example In Mariupol, in Mariupol today There are American and Ukrainian journalists. And everyone will tell you who had contact, who has contact now with Mariupol, who fled from there in the last minutes just before the occupation, or who was able to leave to escape after the occupation. Chernov, who won an Oscar, was among them, and the journalists that left Mariupol, they are here. By the way, we had a conversation. They will tell you that 20,000, 30,000 civilians were tortured and buried there. We do not know the number of victims.”
2025-01-06 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source