EXCLUSIVE: Here's How Fridman-Zelenskyy Interview Went
I'll tell you when it'll be out as well
After several announcements, Lex Fridman, a highly popular Uzbekistan-born U.S. commentator and author of the Fridman podcast, has visited Kyiv, Ukraine.
His intention was clear: to interview Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the war-torn country prepares for the new U.S. administration led by President-elect Donald Trump.
This endeavor of his has made waves among some Ukrainians who believe that he’s “a Russian shill” and a “Putin shill” given that he reportedly wants to interview him too — or accuse him of intentionally not releasing the interviews made in 2022 when he first paid a visit to Ukraine and talked with a host of people.
He tried addressing these concerns in his tweet where he also visits Babyn Yar, the place of mass executions of Jews foremost by the Nazis and the collaborators during the Nazi occupation of Kyiv.
Still, this did not seem to convince many commentators who took to major platforms like X (Twitter) to express their frustration even though Zelenskyy agreed to be interviewed by him due to one major reason: Between 2022-2024, Kyiv almost exclusively communicated with the more Democratic-friendly commentators.
At the beginning of the full-scale war when the bipartisan support was broad, this was not conspicuous or important. But things started to rapidly change when the communication started to almost fully pander to one group only.
Now that the reality has changed dramatically, Kyiv needs to find new ways to reach out to American audiences, including the more Ukraine-skeptic ones.
This is precisely the argument that my source at Zelenskyy’s office put forward regarding Fridman’s interview.
Speaking on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorisation to reach out to the press on the matter, he responded to my request to comment on the controversy regarding Fridman that has engulfed platforms like X (Twitter).
The conversation went like this:
“So, what about Fridman? Is he an alright person? Why did Zelenskyy agree to speak to him?”
“What do you mean? What’s wrong with him?”
“Some voices believe that you shouldn’t be giving him the interview. That he will distort the entire interview. I assume you gave him access for a reason?”
“He’s popular and has a colossal impact on Trump’s voters. We’re ready to talk to Fridman. We don’t see why not. He’s not Tucker Carlson.”
He already finished the interview. It’ll be out January.”
“How did it go? Can we say that it was positive overall?”
“I believe so, yes.”
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To find out more about exclusive Zelenskyy office’s reaction to the incoming Trump administration, read this piece.
"Oh, We're Totally Ok with Trump": Zelenskyy Office's Honest Election Reaction
“Feeling good. Nothing that happened today was of any surprise. We've been preparing for quite a while. There were basically two plans. The first one if Kamala wins and the second one in case Donald does. So we're just following the second plan, that's all there is to it really.”
Ok. I understand a bit more now. Still don't trust Friedman.
here is another interview the readers may find interesting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyz2j-9M9UA