“This is a gift I’m asking for”: presenter Friedman offers Zelensky an interview in Russian

American podcast host Lex Friedman, who arranged an interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, expects to conduct it in Russian, as he does not yet speak Ukrainian. He announced this on the X social network, he reports UNN.

Details

Friedman asked to conduct the interview in Russian, as, according to him, both he and President Zelensky, as well as many Ukrainians, are fluent in this language. At the same time, he noted that he is actively studying the Ukrainian language, and his parents were born in Ukraine — in Kyiv and Kharkiv.

Friedman justified his proposal by saying that, in his opinion, it would provide “the most profound, dynamic and powerful conversation”.

For people who may not know, the Ukrainian language is increasingly becoming a symbol of the Ukrainian people’s struggle for freedom and independence. Unfortunately, I do not speak this language yet, but I am learning it. I can speak Russian fluently, as can President Zelensky, as can a large part of the Ukrainian people. This is a gift I ask for both Christmas and Hanukkah

He also promised to translate the interview into English and Ukrainian.

The host of the podcast also commented on his political position.

I am not a servant of Putin, or Zelensky, or Trump, or Woland, or Gandalf, etc. I am nobody’s pawn. No amount of money, fame, power, access will buy my opinion or my integrity

Friedman also shared details about his life. In particular, he said that he has Ukrainian roots: his parents were born in Kyiv and Kharkiv. In addition, the podcaster noted that his mother’s maiden name was Fedotova, and at birth his full name was Oleksiy, although his family always called him Lex or shortened forms of the name.

We will remind

The President of Ukraine agreed to an interview with Lex Friedman, whose conversations on YouTube have more than 800 million views. The meeting will take place in Ukraine with a podcaster who interviewed Trump and Musk.