Lex Fridman wants to interview Zelensky in Russian

[@VladVexlerChat]

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[@Thierryanthony]

@Vlad, You missed the real point here. If Lex Fridman would have been sincere about his request to do the interview in Russian, he would have asked Zelensky privately. Instead he made his request publicly on purpose. You can do the math.

[@alexsuhoeinsku8876]

@@Thierryanthony What do you mean personally? does he have his phone number? Most likely this was one of the options and Ukrainian pseudo-patriots made noise out of it

[@Hodja-Safar]

on* russian

[@arthurarthur6083]

That was a pretty odd request from Lex. I speak Russian fluently, and I've heard him trying speak Russian a couple of times and he’s really not that good at it. Honestly, I’d say Zelensky’s English sounds better than Lex’s Russian.

[@ollifrank6255]

@@SutterKrumphe is saying that Lex doesn’t really speak Russian. Thus the contradiction

[@SutterKrump]

@ollifrank6255 search lex fridman speaking russian with vitalik buterin close your eyes and listen to the video.

[@user-nh1yb9mk7y]

​@@SutterKrumpthe point is Zelensky's Russian is better than his English 😊

[@SutterKrump]

@@user-nh1yb9mk7y of course it is because it's native language. It's not a philosophical or political issue. Stupid video

[@arthurarthur6083]

@@SutterKrump Sorry, I don't understand your comment. Lex can speak Russian on the level of 3 years old kid at best. So I doubt he can handle complex topics like politics and philosophy in this language. That’s why the situation seems odd to me.

[@swengross46]

I also wanted that Rogan and Trump interview conducted in english but unluckily they resorted to gibberish.

[@andreme7326]

It's called the weave 😂😂😂😂 In all honesty, it was so primitive and stupid, I'm at a lack for words

[@surfingonmars8979]

Now THAT’S comedy!

[@chaosking911]

I speak Russian and that Trump and Rogan interview was perfectly comprehendible...

[@AstroGremlinAmerican]

Kamala turned down the Rogan invitation because she hadn't mastered even basic gibberish.

[@surfingonmars8979]

@ she battled Trump on stage into incoherent idiocy: “they’re eating dogs!” A true fool.

[@Ravengagepvl]

Lex is the kind of guy that would attend the Nuremberg trials in a Live Laugh Love t-shirt and ask why we can't all just get along.

[@SocratesAth]

Spot on!

[@kated2898]

lol! soo true

[@jonahblock]

It’s autism, he really doesn’t understand why we can’t get along and wants to know why

[@michaelgrosberg2665]

That is the best summary of Lex I've read so far. I used to call him the dumbest smsrt person alive, but this is beyter

[@ac583]

This is too generous. Lex is amorally prorussian, full stop.

[@Silverwidows]

Lex didn't interview Garry Kasparov in russian, even though garry is russian. It's a psychological play by lex

[@nullVoidification]

Very good point Sir!

[@johncale1849]

Gary's English is a lot better than Zel's.

[@Mark.Harrington]

I would like to see Putin interviewed in The Hague

[@MarcusLager]

...in Putin's language of choice.

[@ethancampbell2422]

@@MarcusLager The least we can do, we have the choice of place, he gets the choice of language.

[@barmalini]

a short obituary would suffice to be honest

[@BodybuildingNews]

George W. Bush and Dick Cheney first

[@BlueEye-bb2ub]

Hopefully in hell to be interviewed by devil

[@MrScandinavio]

Lex says he is not politically biased, however he is. He has an opinion and it comes through with his odd choices in questions or lack there of.

[@the0ne809]

He got famous because he lied about Tesla semi autonomous capabilities in 2018 by releasing a fake study about it. Elmo invited him after watching his video. I am tired of these "free thinkers" who are just grifters.

[@hymnsfordisco]

When did he say he's not politically biased?

[@2639theboss]

I would argue EVERYONE is politically biased. It's impossible not to be, it's all around us, and even if we choose not to engage with it, it will engage with us. Someone who says they have no bias at all is indicative to me of someone who has a bias and prefers the visage of a "ideal centrist".

[@Writeous0ne]

He is not politically biased. It's just that left wing people seem more reluctant to go on podcasts. I think a lot of people dislike Lex because they see him as "platforming" people they don't like... many people get stuck in an echo chamber where their algorithm is full of affirmation, if someone who is not considered "part" of their echo chamber then they will psychologically dislike them and anyone who even speaks to them. It's guilt by association. For every person who has an opinion on a subject, Lex will always get on his show someone who has an opposing view, or at least he will try to. As i alluded to though many left wing people will not go on shows like Lex or Joe Rogan because they don't want to be associated with them or in the case of Kamala, they don't think they could do a 2 hour show off script without looking stupid.

[@ol_true]

​@Writeous0ne Then why didnt Joe Rogan platform the thousands of Ukrainians or Ukraine bloggers, like Klitchko or Jake Broe, that volunteered when Rogan made those ignorant remarks about Ukraine on his show?

[@haroldellis9721]

I think of Lex Fridman as a microphone holder who lacks a moral core.

[@obanjespirit2895]

His moral core is talking about Jujitsu and asking 'isn't that beautiful though'?

[@jonahblock]

@@obanjespirit2895he is a robot who really wants to know what Beauty is

[@michaelwarenycia7588]

He has intent. You should hear how he waxes poetic about the depths of the Russian soul, Russian culture etc (as if pulling words from Dugin), and how he praises his "hero" Soviet soldier grandfather. He's loyal to the great Russian ideal, even if not necessarily the Russian government

[@lilmamaxyungpapa]

@@michaelwarenycia7588Soviet soldiers were not heroes?

[@AkenValle]

So why are you not on front then? Where is your moral core?

[@eltamarindo]

Lex Friedman wraps his inherent disingenuousness with a painfully long-winded veneer of intellectualism

[@lennycat2752]

Ive never found the right words....you did, thanks.

[@themasterbuilder222]

Reminds me of this channel

[@kirktown2046]

I've distanced myself from Lex since Ukraine was invaded and I watched him take several days to finally condemn Russia's invasion. I'm like him in some ways, he's part Ukrainian and speaks Russian and I'm primarily Ukrainian part Russian born in CCCP, and also mainly spoke Russian due to circumstance. I never thought of myself as Russian but wouldn't come to resent the language and association until Russia invaded Georgia... Then Chechnya... Now Ukraine. Yet, despite Russia's bloody behavior, kids growin up under russification in their country were being welcomed more and more worldwide thanks to the internet... Not sure how to explain, but Lex finds himself as a 80's kid who wants to be proud of his heritage in some way, who wants to be part of bridging a gap. Is he actually doing that? I don't think so, I think his fence sitting is causing harm. I think his being enamoured with the душа of the Russian language, since he just doesn't speak Ukrainian which has the same quality. I can't understand Lex anymore, he should be smart enough to know he's doing harm at this point.

[@vaultsjan]

Few times lex spoke russian i found it bit rough

[@GodwinGodfather]

You speak English, but us has destroyed millions of lives in the middle east.

[@kirktown2046]

​@@GodwinGodfather Russia has annexed and invaded 3 countries in 30 years. The US? 0. Point to other countries like the US to distract from Russia's bloody behavior, only makes Russians look even worse. Especially from anyone in USSR, it's shameful to associate with Russia now, even it's "allies" are backstabbing it.

[@vaultsjan]

@@GodwinGodfather hello bot

[@adamgates1142]

@vaultsjan Are they wrong?

[@raymondgough6070]

Your comment about Lex having a "tendency to believe in positive intent from all leaders" was quite shocking for me because it made me realise I do this too. I need to think more about this and the potential negatives it brings...

[@VladVexlerChat]

Yes we have constructive and destructive capabilities and we got here via evolution !

[@TheDog_Chef]

Interesting, I take all politicians as guilty until proven otherwise!

[@victoriadedicova]

​@@TheDog_Chefright? Maybe I've spent a lot of time with politicians or maybe too much around democrats. Assume they are corrupt to the core. Ask questions later. More likely to be pleasantly surprised when you put the barrier close to the floor.

[@AstroGremlinAmerican]

Keep in mind that there's a certain charm in being agreeable and even gullible. Barbara Walters had a successful career with softball interviews.

[@joansparky4439]

Besides symbiosis the most prevalent modus operandi of INDIVIDUAL living beings (which evolution acts on) is 'survival of the fittest individual by any means available and at the cost of others if opportune' - no fairness, no socialness.. just PURE survival (of the species). Accept that as the basis and be positively surprised if individuals exceed this with selflessness.

[@mattd8725]

Maybe Zelenskyy could be interviewed by someone who can both speak Ukrainian and also isn't a toxic propagandist.

[@MeeesterBond17]

Milla Jovovich?

[@РоманОлексик-в9з]

@@MeeesterBond17 the one that said she was born in Kyiv by mistake? doubt it

[@bilic8094]

​@@MeeesterBond17I think she's Russian and Serbian background born in kiev.

[@Dorgpoop]

The thing is, Zelensky's first language is actually Russian. Even at the height of the war he was making time to take Ukrainian lessons, because before becoming president he couldn't really speak it.

[@LaimisMatas]

@@Dorgpoop is that really so? Could you be so kind to provide a couple of sources to this?

[@Ragnarok540]

Lex is such a disappointment, at the very beginning of his podcast he was interviewing people in the academic fields of artificial intelligence and computer science, and now he just gives a platform to people like Trump or Musk.

[@peterc4082]

It was BS then, it is still BS now.

[@glib4233]

Isn't it laughable for a somewhat successful youtuber to be considered a platform for a president and a billionaire?

[@jeremywilkes322]

That style is fine for non political topics. The just asking questions drooling face thing doesn’t work when the interviewees have a very specific message and mission and don’t have any pushback.

[@peterc4082]

@@glib4233 It is but because the people online are a tiny subset of the world. They think social media is No 1. There are 4 million views on Fridman's channel but the world's population is how many billion? That's a statistical error. For the podcaster and many fans the "Law of the Instrument" comes in, when the only tool you have is a hammer... Also you American guys are raised to think you are No 1. So Fridman being an American with a Pee-eytch-Dee from MIT thinks he really is outstanding and can solve the world's problems. He really believes his podcasts are important for society. They're not, of course, and they don't matter.

[@peterc4082]

@@jeremywilkes322 And I like how he calls some of his guests 'excellent examples of fine or outstanding human beings'. He's treating his guests as though they're gods or maybe war buddies who discovered each others care after some great trench sacrifice or risk. Who interviews people this way? He'll start crying next and offering up his first born maybe to one?

[@IsabelCoenen]

Friedman's arselicking Trump interview was so shocking that I would never want to watch him again.

[@YPP22010]

He is a political prostitute. Spineless piece of shit who would sell his own mother for money.

[@chickenduckhappy]

You are successful and wonderful in all ways, Sir. How did you become so successful and wonderful?

[@PedroFerreira-ze5yp]

why would you want to listen to that bore at all??

[@3s0t3r1c]

@@chickenduckhappy by not sucking on trumps member.

[@Otawee]

unsubscribed after that

[@andreisopon4615]

Oh, the title is meant to say "in Russian", not "in Russia". Last one sounding like an onion article draft :)

[@Based_n_Boredpilled]

Let’s compromise and do the interview in ancient Sumerian

[@demos113]

Only if the let Ea-nāṣir conduct the interview. 🙃

[@Coconautify]

Yiddish.

[@stevecobb2997]

Don't be silly--the ideal compromise language would be Esperanto.

[@stevecobb2997]

@@Coconautify I'd like to see them try!

[@chickenduckhappy]

etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/index1.htm For preparation. The picture is neat, btw.

[@barmalini]

I'd rather see an interview of Putin by Tucker Carson in Ukrainian

[@yuriy5376]

I'm sure the Dutch television will arrange it one day

[@victoriadedicova]

Why? You wouldn't understand half of it as is. 😂

[@barmalini]

@@victoriadedicova as If there was anything worth understanding in the english version

[@paulyoung4422]

Lex Fridman can speak in Russian and Zelensky can answer in English. That would show who's side, each is on.

[@Will-eq7uh]

Ah yes, Lex must be on Russias side because he wants to convince Russians to be more sympathetic to Ukraine 🤔

[@hq3473]

​@@Will-eq7uhRussians had youtube blocked. They are beyond help. It's like trying to convince Nazis in 1944.

[@Apjooz]

@Will-eq7uh Weird then that he has never argued that Russia should pull back and pay compensation to Ukraine.

[@mitchyoung93]

Z man's English is very impressive for the short time he has been at it, but it is significantly worse than his Ukrainian, which from what I can tell isn't that great either.

[@Will-eq7uh]

@ he hasn’t said exactly that but he is clearly supporting Ukraine and that can be easily inferred from what he has said

[@coldwar45]

Lex doesn’t even speak Russian that well so I don’t understand why LOL

[@ol_true]

@@coldwar45 I found it hilarious when he tweeted that he speaks Russian and *some* Ukrainian. More like "I understand some Ukrainian words that have common roots with Russian"

[@kated2898]

As a Ukrainian a feel a wave of rage by the fact that he even proposed that. It is not a respectful gesture at all.

[@victoriadedicova]

Oh do shut up, you didn't even speak Ukrainian 3 years ago. 😂 Self-righteousness reeking of egotism.

[@Gwanzan3325]

I'm amazed this Fridman character had the gall to make such a request.

[@Vamooso]

​@@Gwanzan3325I would think making the Ukrainian side easier to hear to the Russian population, not exactly the worst idea

[@mitchyoung93]

@kated2898 In half the videos of combat the "Ukrainians" are speaking Russian. And given Syrsky's real struggles in Ukrainian...evident in his sixty minutes interview...I doubt very much his staff meetings are conducted in Ukrainian.

[@fullcirclehistory]

If Zelensky's first language was Ukrainian, I would find this proposal offensive. But... Zelensky's first language is Russian, so I'm not entirely sure why it's seen as a terrible proposal

[@BusyLad]

If there ever was epitome of pseudo intellectualism it's Lex Fridman.

[@MarincaGheorghe]

Exactly. The "reading list" drama he started convinced me or that also.

[@item6931]

I'm not sure what you mean by that. He interviews mostly people who are experts in their fields but doesn't pretend to be their equals and very rarely interrupts them. My only "criticism" of him is that he is so into coding and I'm not lol

[@Shaft0]

​@item6931 his podcast is elaborate hollowness

[@not_your_business666]

He is a spineless coward

[@ol_true]

@@item6931 He takes all the information given by the interviewee as fact and never pushes back. I wouldn't even call Lex an interviewer, more like listener or platformer.

[@bagreene6710]

Zelensky’s English is actually quite good. He might search for a word once in a while, but can express himself very well. And he has the power of his unique sounding voice, which trumps his English vocabulary. He could easily do a 3 hour interview in English, but as head of state, might prefer his native language so as not to risk a misstatement.

[@mitchyoung93]

@bagreene6710 No it isn't. He can sometimes read a speech well in English. He can't express himself well in interview situations in English. It is impressive in that he has learned a great deal in a short time, but it still is pretty poor and not conversation. Then again he has been having to learn so-called Ukrainian too.

[@dmytrogalan1005]

​@@mitchyoung93 what does "so-called" Ukrainian even mean😂? Putting your fascistic bias aside, you do realize zelensky has been doing speeches and interviews without a podium with a script on the top? You can't memorize, articulate or even just pronounce words of a language you have no experience with If you ever learned more than two languages you can feel the difference between someone that understands what he is saying and someone that had to learn it in months with a tutor You are just bu77 hurt about it

[@lucretiaweil75]

@@mitchyoung93 "so called Ukrainian" It shows so well what you are.

[@yuriy5376]

​@@mitchyoung93 thank you for showing who you really are "mitch" 😂

[@theb1z0n]

@@mitchyoung93“so called Ukrainian“, hahah but seriously buy dollars Ivan.

[@fatfeline1086]

Not particularly interested in this topic (not a Lex fan at all, find him boring and pretentious and humorless, which makes him particularly intolerable to watch or even talk about as he is here) but, very glad to see Vlad V looking so well.

[@angelachouinard4581]

Yes I don't know when he filmed this but I'm glad to see him looking well also

[@bellbookcandle3051]

Wonderful to see you looking well!🙏💙

[@TheFeldhamster]

1. Zelenskyy has given several long interviews (around 45min each) in Russian to German media who sent journalists who could speak Russian but not Ukrainian in 2022, maybe also in early 2023. I don't remember any recent ones, though. So it's not like he never gave any interviews in Russian or like he only ever used Russian when he wanted to address the Russian people or talk to Russian journalists in exile. The interviews with German media were intended for a German audience and released in dubbed and in subtitled format. They did not target a Russian audience. 2. Zelenskyy starts to struggle in English when he is tired. When he's better rested, his English is a lot better and he has given a few long (about an hour) interviews in English which were nuanced and got his points across very well. Eg there's one interview with an Italian journalist from October or early November 2022 and one interview with a bunch of different media in Romania in late 2023. 3. As someone who speaks neither Ukrainian nor Russian, I'd prefer the interview to be in English, especially if it really is 3hrs long. Listening to some crappy interpreter (or worse, AI generated voice) is terrible and won't do Zelenskyy any good with a (right wing) US (or any international) audience. Neither would forcing the audience to read subtitles for 3hrs. And apparently, the interview has already been recorded. I hope it's in English and Zelenskyy went into this well rested and restricted the time to something more reasonable, like 1.5hrs. Not that I wouldn't listen to 3hrs of Zelenskyy, but he'd probably get tired and his English would deteriorate if he went the full 3hrs. Fingers crossed.

[@aimeelinekar3902]

Then get a good interpreter. We do exist.

[@oliversissonphone6143]

In his interview with The Economist, Zelensky spoke a combination of English, Russian (his native language) and Ukrainian. So why dictate the language at all? Let him speak whatever language or languages he wants.

[@thermionix]

This is such a coincidence! A stoned tree trunk in my front yard wants to interview Zelensky in proto-slavic!

[@pineapplethief4418]

stoned tree trunk sounds like something that has way better ethics than Mr. Fridman AND is also actually fun at parties.

[@Lowe505]

I prefer to think of this in more simplistic terms. Lex Fridman has the self awareness of a vegetable

[@trouaconti7812]

I bet his bank account depends on it

[@MasterBot98]

Actually, vegetables care a great deal about the climate they live in, so he might be worse.

[@Lowe505]

@@MasterBot98 very true 🤣although he still retains the personality of one

[@itheuserfirst3186]

Lex is one odd duck.

[@MarincaGheorghe]

He can be clearly catalogued. See his BS " reading list" drama.

[@ginniemess]

Nothing odd, just a true russian at heart

[@mooksool]

Eider said that, but you already have.

[@liveoak227]

He's naive and gullible.

[@mikg2618]

As Ukrainian I will watch the original version with three languages, here in Kharkiv. Period.

[@daviddelgado6090]

Fridman: let's talk in Russian Zelensky: what's in it for Ukraine? Fridman: I get paid for it. Zelensky:

[@mitchyoung93]

daviddelgado6090 What's in it is clearer understanding as it is the native language of both people involved, Zelensky appears to struggle at times in "Ukrainian"*, and virtually all the people of the Ukraine understand standard Russian. *the quotes because the language is still being standardized and has many significant dialectical variations.

[@vladcrimea]

⁠​⁠@@mitchyoung93Ukrainian being standardized - says who? This is the standard Russian propaganda bs point. This is simply untrue. Zelensky Ukrainian is perfect and as standard as it should be

[@victoriadedicova]

​@@mitchyoung93 so when Bolsheviks invented the modern Ukrainian they did a crap of a job blending Polish, Hungarian, Romanian, Ukrainian and Russian?

[@victoriadedicova]

​@@vladcrimea please. Half the people talk Russia. With Ukrainianish accent. It's funny. And someone that speaks 6 languages. I can recognize people just learning a language.

[@crunchyfrog63]

​@@vladcrimea It’s standard "Russian" propaganda.

[@BVasquezp]

How about he speaks Russian and Zelensky speaks Ukrainian and we see how similar the languages actually are?

[@dan-ee3we]

A russian does not understand Ukrainian lanugage

[@ExVeritateLibertas]

Which is something that occurs a million times a minute in Ukraine, because they are essentially all bilingual but people have a preferred language...but not really a fair test. Anecdotally I can tell you Russians from Russia are taught Ukrainian is essentially Russian with a funny accent (the more liberal educated know better) but when they are first exposed to it protest, "I don't understand that ****!" Another Russian who moved to Ukraine before the war said he could understand everything after about 1 month. So mutual intelligibilty -- maybe 30%-40% at first but 90% after extensive exposure.

[@MeeesterBond17]

It would be like interviewing a Brazilian politician in Spanish. An English speaker with no understanding of either Portuguese or Spanish wouldn't hear the difference. But the Brazilian would be confused as hell by key word differences like "hablar/falar" unless they had learned Spanish. Source - I'm married to a Brazilian and am currently hosting her family for Christmas holidays.

[@chestermosburger3113]

BVasquezp Zelensky speaks Russian. He is not a born Ukrainian speaker, which gives the lie to Putin's claim of discrimination against Russian speakers in Ukraine- the persident IS a Russian speaker!!!

[@coldwar45]

@@dan-ee3weNot true they can understand some as both are Slavic languages but yeah Ukrainian is closer to Polish than Russian

[@ann-marieeigert2720]

I think Zelenskyy may have agreed if it was handled through backchannels but Lex spoiled it by asking publicly. He created a PR dilemma for Zelenskyy, threw a gauntlet he didnt have to throw.

[@laars0001]

Nope he wouldn't agree.

[@its_Today_]

@@laars0001Spot on. Prez Zelenskyy (same as vast majority of Ukrainians) swore off speaking russian full time once the invasion was underway back in ‘22. Yes. He’s done a few interviews speaking speaking ru that I’m aware of, ie to ru ‘reporters’, for a russian audience, back in ‘22, when those 1st early ‘peace talks’ were taking place.. stance was without putler being involved, ehole thing was pointless and just wasted time. Which, turned out, was absolutely correct As we know, piddly midget wasn’t interested in Any peace, seem to recall a coupla of Zelenskyy’s negotiators were poisoned to boot.. Upshot. To be requested to play ‘a completely sovereign Ukraine is really a part of an obscenely invading russia cos even the Prez speaks the occupants language’, such a blatant attempt of transparent ru propaganda, I’m fully expecting we’ll be hearing of another F.B.I file and case being brought into the spotlight soon.. My only question would be, if No Case is brought, why not.. seriously legit curious if turns out why not..

[@liamanderson4992]

It's not a PR dilemma at all. Zelensky has nothing to gain from such an interview and Fridman is a relative nonentity.

[@joeperkowski]

How about Lex interview Zelensky in Ukrainian - This is a clear game Lex is playing.

[@billy2807]

Took me a minute to mentally shake off the video title and realize we're saying "in russiaN." :)

[@Dreamer66617]

yeah i was thinking in russia like what is lex an idiot hahah

[@Lorenz1973]

Same, read the title and felt sick to my stomach - “they will kill him, they will murder him in Russia”…

[@VladVexlerChat]

Sorry

[@deadlyarturok]

ayooo i was like same...thinking hes joking or something why even bother making the interview then

[@martinlatvian5538]

And who cares? Many people understand Russian and Ukrainian language. Later We can translate it for You.

[@soaringblackbird4431]

Also this, Fridman's demand to interview presidednt Zelenskyy in Russian is like if someone wanted to interview President of Czechoslovakia during WW2 in German. Or rather interviewing President of Poland Czechoslovakia in German. Got my hint?

[@LyubomirIko]

Nobody is stopping Zelensky from having an interview in English, in which he is not fluent. Lex is giving him an options, and the overreaction is showing immaturity along other things.

[@EugeneMuratov]

controversy of not releasing the interview with ponomarenko is about declared bothsideism approach of fridman, while in reality he gives voice to one side only. now this...

[@nicholasharrison5037]

I was happy to see somebody like lex Friedman existed out there, advocating for long form and in depth conversations. It’s honestly a decent antidote for the sheer ignorance that has developed from politicians speaking and short hyper stimulating news segments.the whole thing with wanting the interview to be done in Russian though? It’s too stupid to not be suspicious. There are previous interviews (not sure if you mentioned yet, I start commenting 1 minute In) that he didn’t even release? With ukranian Ian journalists? Photos of him with said journalists post interview yet they were never released? For the lack of a better description, it’s just so ridiculous and out of touch. Let’s speak the language of the occupying hoard.

[@C0urne]

There's a clip of Alexei calling Putin "a humble and honest man" when Putin got into power. Either Alexei is paid or blackmailed or he is a russian soul. My guess is on the 3rd option. Though him not releasing the interviews he did in Ukraine back in 2022 feels like it could very well be an order from his handler.

[@Shaft0]

You need to look around more

[@romany8125]

​@@C0urnehis professed love for dostoyevski and Solzhenitsin made it all quiet obvious.

[@johncale1849]

Russian is the native language of most Ukrainians - including Zel. Lex is just trying to be rational.

[@supertorque2176]

This is an absurd request, considering the suppression of Ukrainian language and culture by the Russians in the past.

[@chickenduckhappy]

It's as absurd as asking the queen of Denmark for a naked interview. Suggesting this just makes him look so bad in many ways, I'm almost a tiny bit surprised.

[@laars0001]

No kidding, the request also get zero traction anywhere

[@archmage_of_the_aether]

​@@laars0001well, the queen is a handsome woman, but I can't imagine anyone would expect nudity

[@Normandy-e8i]

I'm not surprised at all considering how he has surprised me with incompetence over the last 4 years. Maybe not incompetence anyway but at least ignorance and total naivety

[@archmage_of_the_aether]

@@chickenduckhappy my "naked queen" comment got deleted. I'm on the algorithm's s**t list.

[@PhillipJohnGreenslade]

Denmark has a King.

[@noahway13]

Zelensky has a better command of english than does Trump.

[@svr5423]

Covfefe

[@SebastianSchleussner]

To be fair, that's not hard.

[@d_rooster]

Vlad, I didn't think much of you when I first heard about your channel, mainly because I hated analytical philosophy at Uni. But every video I watch convinces me your views are solid.

[@DarkestAlice]

Thank you, Vlad, wonderful analysis. Lots of love to you and to the Beautiful Community. 🤗

[@matthewmulkeen]

I'm very happy to see you sitting and with a different background, hope you are feeling better.

[@phil3924]

zelensky is a showman and all about drama. It won’t be in Russian

[@velikanskaglava2087]

Zelensky speaks better russian than english. Lex does 3 hours interviews. If Zelensky wants to do it he will, if he doesn't he will not. The fact of Lex not speaking as good russian as he does english, has less of importance, since he is only posing predetermined questions. People want to hear the guest more than interviewer.

[@todo9633]

I don't really mind him making the request, if his Russian is way better than his Ukrainian or Zelensky's English it just makes sense. Honestly this is all a nothing burger IMO, unless an actual interview happens then it's just a podcaster asking a politician for an interview.

[@panchopuskas1]

These youtube podcasters really do think the sun shines out of their arses. It's posed as if they're contributing something to humanity when in fact they're on an ego trip.....if Fridman really wants peace in Ukraine he should support the Ukraine war effort in any way he can.....

[@peterc4082]

Modern Americans. Most of you guys are arrogant and highly opinionated. You will travel to another country and lecture people there about their history or society. White saviour complex. Victorians 'civilising' the world. Anglo-Saxons spreading civilisation to non Anglo-Saxons.

[@wtfboom4585]

Yeah it feels like lex genuinely thinks he just needs to get putin and zelenskiy in a room and record a 5 hour podcast, and it would solve all their problems. Unbelievably naive guy who hasn't realised his guests take easy advantage of his platform while he's so enamoured with them

[@peterc4082]

@@wtfboom4585 Or he just wants to make interviews about topics that will generate views.

[@theopendataapprentice]

'the way off the naughty step is by eating more green vegetables' ... it really doesn't get more duolingo than that!

[@geraldjarosch536]

Not to change the topic, but are you planning a video about what is happening in Romania right now? I feel this is one of the most interesting crises of the last decade to look at for a political scientist, I don't know how much a politicial philosopher.

[@trouaconti7812]

Clear as night and day, russian is meddling in Romania’s election

[@vcslim6743]

Brilliant. Love from California

[@josephrapp]

Lex is trying to get Zelenskyy to submit--a metaphorical surrender.

[@Flynbourne]

Feels like he’s just trolling Zelenski and he has no honest intent whatsoever. He probably wants Zelenski to reject the interview request which can then be used to suggest that he is refusing to engage.

[@Chrachrach]

"Bloody touugh to do interview in translation"- not really, it's common practice, you need really good interpreters for this.

[@VladVexlerChat]

@@Chrachrach it’s common practice but it’s tough.

[@ivangohome]

Enjoying your analysis ❤👍

[@k.squared]

Friedmans transformation has been quite shocking. He is, for me at least, a podcaster, definitely not a "youtuber", who, according to his podcast profile on Spotify, talks about "science, technology, history, philosphy and nature of intelligence, consciousness, love, and power". He was brilliant in his ability to keep up with world renowned experts of extremely complex fields of R&D, and the focuss was always revolving around AI, IT, and physical scienses. His naivety with regards to the real world would sometimes break through (e. g. he would invite Eric Weinstein (edit: sorry, Bret Weinstein), even though he completely disagreed with his views on COVID but wanted to do it for the sake of some sort of idealistic objectivity). But when you look at his recent talks, you notice he's been talking to Javier Milei, Bernie Sanders, Jordan Peterson, Vivek Ramaswamy, Trump (also Ivanka!), Cenk Uygur, Elon Musk (for the tenth time, probably), etc. WTF?

[@mertanen1]

And Noam Chomsky, Tucker Carlson, John Mearsheimer and Robert F. Kennedy. Welcome to the freak show where Putin is good and vaccines are bad!

[@peterc4082]

American garbage peddler, peddling American garbage.

[@Shaft0]

Just another bullshit artist

[@davidkottman3440]

​@@Shaft0No, he's not really the artistic type 😂

[@andrewdunbar828]

He can't keep up with a lot of the tech experts actually. He did good with the AI guys but poorly with the programming guys. But often got good interviews anyway just because the interviewees were able to carry the interviews and had a lot of interesting stuff to add given the long form.

[@marcuslarsson9548]

80 of ukrainians speak russia in their day to day life

[@bobspurloc]

I think lex's reasoning is that in russian, russias impoverished will hear what they are being denied. but the problem with it is that pootan will simply say, he speaks russian, ukraine is russian we must regain our lost territory. and ukrainians will see it as betrayal. so its not possible. and russian impoverished dont watch you t00b they watch TAS. maybe he can do 50% english 50% Ukrainian....

[@guidobolke5618]

Selensky has talked to the russian public several times in the beginning of the war.

[@woosh_woosh]

Dude, it's been a while since I've watched (or rather listened to) Fridman's podcasts and I have poor assessment of what his current state is. But if that's his REAL reasoning regarding this language thing, well then...There are delusional people, there are flat earthers, antivaxxers, moon landing deniers. And then there is Lex Fridman, who is on an entirely different level of delusions. I mean those flat earthers and others, they have some twisted theories that are at least based on half-truths and magical thinking and whatnot. But for someone like Lex to actually believe in the viability of this kind of reasoning...It would mean that his understanding of the state of affairs on the subject of Russia (and Ukraine for that matter) is so alien to reality that anything he could say, or even more, ask someone like Zelensky - is utterly meaningless. "Impoverished russians" as you've put it, they do not watch Lex Fridmans podcasts. He is worse than just some noname amongst said demographics - he is nonexistent entity in their universe, who does not have an ounce of relevance. Even if his podcasts were dubbed in Russian AND Ukranian since day one. No one of his guests, except maybe Musk (and Thrump ofc) is a person who's name is somewhat familiar to those "impoverished russians". And we are talking about just the name, not what it represents to your typical english-speaking youtube crowd. One of the least vouge Z-patriotic telegram channels whose content is a mix of over9000 cringe level patriotic posts and some shitty advertisement has more relevance than Lex's entire professional and media careers to the power of 10. And I'm not trying to insult him or belittle his achievements. It's just the way things are and for someone of his caliber to (presumably) base his suggestion of such impact and importance solely on that massive ass-backwards understanding of the state of affairs...I'd rather will not take him as this blind and self-centered. At least I'd like to think that. As for your TAS take - that's also is not the case, or rather were not the case before the decline of youtube accessibility due to massive censorship campaign on behalf of federal government. The majority of "impoverished russians" were watching youtube. And if one would compare state-owned media reach (I believe TAS was your substitute for the term) over youtube - the comparison would not be in TAS's favor. The devil's ofc in the details, since it is not the same youtube that you and I watch (I want to believe you do not think that there really is some definitively coherent KZbin) and better analogy to TAS would rather be said telegram channels. I am russian, not "impoverished" one, I'd like to think. And that, for the most part, is the basis for these observations and statements. Any reasoning of this kind on his behalf is indicative on either complete lack of expertise on the subject or truly wight-knightish belief that knowing all that he, Lex, against all odds, will somehow reach those "impoverished russians", because of reasons, I guess. Though my personal take on this is he just there for the Hype, since apparently everyone is a politician now. And if there would be some semblance of peace achieved - they all could pretend they were a part of this

[@samedwards6683]

Thanks so much for creating and sharing this informative video. Great job. Keep it up. Heroyam Slava. 💙💛 🇺🇦

[@stevecobb2997]

If I were Zelensky, I would take the opportunity to emphasize that Russian belongs to Russia as much as German does to Germany.

[@isaacyonemoto]

I don't love lex, but we have to consider two things: By giving an interview in russian zelensky has the opportunity to more powerfully reach (if even a small segment of) the russian public. And lex might have strategically held out on releasing ukrainian activist interviews to be able to get a putin/zelensky interview. Only time will tell on both counts.

[@romany8125]

I strongly disagree, but I'll play along. What do you think would happen if Zelensky actually manages to reach russian public?

[@raphofthehills4405]

@@romany8125 Maybe it'd make a few Russians get a glimpse of what's actually going on outside the state-controlled info bubble they're in ? Though, since RU has been limiting to open social medias platforms, the Russians who'd see such an interview (via VPN, etc) would already likely be aware aware of the situation. So, in the end, not sure it'd measurably move the needle.

[@romany8125]

@@raphofthehills4405 do you believe them to be so fundamentally naive? They know everything. Most of them were not born yesterday. But I'll keep playing along. Do you think them knowing has a slightest possibility of changing anything?

[@davidkottman3440]

​@@romany8125 not the slightest chance, but a few weeks ago Assad was most likely dictator of Syria for life

[@elasadsoy1526]

That will not change anything, if even the russian state tv will show this interview in primetime

[@TheMacbatts]

Populism is riding the issues without engagement in solving the problems.

[@dutchysmoke]

Great video Vlad

[@timbuktutue]

Zelensky speaks perfect Russian! So does my UA family. Due to circumstances they don't want to. Even if they are better in RU(!) than in UA(!). Both my family and Zelensky can go into depth in RU language, if they want. But neither want to, unfortunately perhaps. Unfortunately , perhaps, because they could communicate their real issues with Putins RU, and its followers to all of us. And RU's really need to understand what gripes we (who want agency) have with Putin and his RU and RU-MIR! And apart from that I think Vlad is showing us important insights from his refuge, though the plant might disagree to all the pushing :-).

[@timbuktutue]

Tired now.. however..., KZbinrs have never, in my mind, been anything but individuals who think they have something of value to say. Nothing new compared to the pre-KZbin ages where all who thought their ideas where valuable did whatever they could to push their ideas in print media, tv, live venues or otherwise. Then there are some "KZbinrs" with organisational backing (and they are dangerous and should be carefully scrutinised, e.g. TVP, Times Radio, and many more,). Some do what they do with profit (mind-changing or us$ wise), some without. Make up your own mind, please(!), about the validity of all of these voices, but don't mistake them for subjective truth or valid interpretation.

[@timbuktutue]

sorry, objective truth, not subjective truth, of course!

[@Torrisonia]

Good points, Vlad. Thanks.

[@peteratkin3788]

Lex Fridman wants to interview Zelensky in Russian, well what about Putin being interviewed in The Hague?

[@joelfisk]

I like your channel because you seem to be perpetually on the verge of tears.

[@williambustos2132]

I didn't request it! It wasn't my fault! It was that other guy!

[@philip9106]

One of your best, Vlad. Genius insights, rigor and I'm not ashamed to say, entertaining. I appreciate how you discussed this without getting mad about very maddening subject matter.

[@sgdesignwork]

Vlad. I hope you are doing well. Will you do another discussion with Mark Galeotti? The previous one you did was the best info on Putin/Russia of all youtube evaluations I have seen. Also where can I find the complete video of that previous conversation? It seemed to be shortened. Thanks Scott

[@_amalfitano]

There was indeed another half of that interview. If you liked the first one you should definitely see the second! You can find it in the playlist on my KZbin profile.... Not sure I'll be able to post a link directly here. Unfortunately, the Galeotti interviews were released when Vlad's main channel was being suppressed in the algorithm due to likely bot traffic issues and reduced ad revenue, so they didn't do very well. Share with people who'd be interested.

[@sgdesignwork]

Thank you! I think I found it.

[@pksteffen]

Nailed it! Positively.

[@BasilBeaton]

Fridman subscribes to a form of linguistic relativism/determinism - that the language one speaks shapes the way one thinks. This theory was long abandoned by linguistics scholars but has been revived by cognitive scientists, especially Lera Boroditsky. So Fridman's argument will be that unless he speaks to Zelensky in Zelensky's native language (Russian), he won't be able to get to the real truth behind the person and his thoughts. I think this is mostly nonsense, as Fridman's Russian isn't proficient and there are excellent interpreters now who would do a better job of conveying what Zelensky wants to get across if he chose to speak in Russian or Ukrainian.

[@hannehansen7214]

You always have lots of vegetables in your analyses. Thats why i appreciate you so much. Plenty lots of love to you too.

[@charlesparr1611]

Did you forget an important letter 'n' at the very end of that title? Also, it is good to see you looking much better than you have recently, I hope you feel as much improved as you appear!

[@samsejavka8600]

good to see you sparkling.

[@liminal27]

Who cares what Lex Fridman wants 👈😀

[@ankh_k]

There’s no point in Zelensky giving an interview in Russian. Most of Lex’s audience is English-speaking, and they’d prefer the interview to be in English. If Zelensky wants to address Russians, he can do so through Russian independent media, which he has already done in the past.

[@suzannewman979]

Your analysis pinpoints my objections to Lex Fridman's interviews with politicians. Thank you so much. Glad to see you and hope 2025 is even more successful for you in every way.

[@VladVexlerChat]

Thank you and positive almost new year’s wishes your way!

[@suzannewman979]

@@VladVexlerChat Vlad, I really appreciate your commentaries. Also look forward to your main channel videos as well. Your insights have been right on. We will get through these next years together. That makes me happy.

[@horus909]

I bet Lex could get an interview with Arestovich in Russian. That guy is a freaking Nostradamus.

[@laleluleilo]

Hi Vlad!😊

[@VladVexlerChat]

Khi!!!

[@DJDiskmachine]

Hello Vlad, what a cozy looking flat! Thanks for your analysis, have a great one. 🎆

[@Yutani_Crayven]

Very comprehensively observant, and thus enjoyable. Thank you, as always.

[@VladVexlerChat]

Thank you back!

[@andrewparry7528]

Looking good today Vlad 👌 thanks for all your efforts in helping us al understand . HNY! Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦 ♥️

[@Mikolas3250]

...or perhaps Putin in Ukraine ?

[@aaronlea9559]

Thanks Big V!

[@LLlap]

Fridman barely speaks russian. Every time he tries it's borderline embarassing. That said, Zelenski's English is not the best.

[@caspermaul7583]

It's actually better than most people give him credit for... I agree that at the beginning of the war it was very rudementary, but it has improved a lot over the last 3 years.

[@LLlap]

@caspermaul7583 I went off of him when the war started and hadn't listened much. Hard to believe he is on Michael Malice level. But maybe I am wrong and his handlers spend so much time with him now that some russian started to rub off on him :)

[@jessicarowley9631]

Thanks for the Brussel Sprouts, Vlad. I will have to think and listen again to give a definite answer, but on balance? I'd say, yes!

[@BertieDoo]

I hear you Vlad, and many of the negative Lex comments below, but… (and note I only ever watch his science interviews, and rarely these days)… I think Lex is purposely a bit vacuous in his style as the intent is to provide a blank platform for the interviewee and promote discussion between viewers. When I first heard that that he might be interviewing Zelenskyy, my first thought was that it could be in Russian, for two reasons alone, 1) it’s a first language for both of them, and I would want Zelensky to talk naturally in such an interview format, and 2) it might provide a platform for Zelenskyy to talk directly to the Russian people (that can still access KZbin). I don’t know, may be it is a bad idea, but not one we should be getting irate about. Conversation is good isn’t it?

[@ccompass]

Lex can barely put together a couple of words in russian, lol. If you want Zelensky to talk naturally, he can speak Ukrainian and a professional translator can translate it for you. Or you are free to learn Ukrainian. There's something sickening about the way you all want to force a rape victim to "talk directly" to her rapist. We talked to russians. They are zombies.

[@Woot-Zee]

Because Z barely speaks Ukr? :))

[@wytchend]

I would prefer you to conduct the interview. Now that would be wonderful viewing 🙏

[@danielmadar9938]

Thanks

[@middlecam]

I suspect many are missing the point. A Russian language interview is more difficult to suppress in Russia.... it's a communication strategy to try and get past the Russian propaganda machine

[@davidkottman3440]

Yes, it's possible...

[@mattwilson50]

A Russian-language interview of Zelenskyi by Fridman doesn't make much sense if Fridman is not proficient in Russian (as appears to be the case). However, as Zelenskyi's mother tongue is Russian - and, as he's been on Russian television, as a performer, quite a lot - and, as this interview would seem to be directed at a Russian audience, primarily - then it would make sense for the interview to be in Russian.

[@ForWater-m4s]

Any interview in any language is perfectly watchable in Russia. Russians know many languages. And the Russian browser translates any language into Russian online. Some Russian technologies are more convenient than Google technologies

[@videobyredjade]

Thank you

[@CaroAbebe]

I learnt Russian as a 15 year old. Shortly before the whole scale war started, I was about to brush up my Russian. Now, I can’t bring myself to do it. For the time being, it’s a loaded language to me. Much love to you, Vlad ❤

[@LachieMcg]

Lex should have stuck to interviewing experts in coding AI. He doesn’t have the credibility to do politics after so too man soft interviews with fascists

[@PedroFerreira-ze5yp]

Lex Friedman. the most BOOOOOOORIIIING guy in the whole multiverse! YAWWNNNNNNN

[@andrewwilson9971]

Werner Herzog would have loved to meet and interview Zelensky. And we would have loved to watch it, I'm not so sure about this guy.

[@mitchyoung93]

@andrewwilson9971 Did he die? Why wasn't I told?!

[@andrewwilson9971]

@mitchyoung93 No he lives. But 82 and retired

[@leirex_1]

I believe most people have always engaged with politics on a "vibes based" level (if at all), and only very few had engaged with it on an intellectual/rational or even professional level. These two groups used to be quite isolated, but with the age of social media, the average Joe Schmoe, political experts, activists, politicians ect. are now sharing the same battleground and the same audience. I think it elevated a lot of people up by one or two steps in terms of political awareness: the apolitical have become casually interested or were forced to, the previously casual have become amateurs and some amateurs have become experts. A similar thing also happened with video games: most people used to have no clue, but nowadays suddenly everyone has the most meta build, a solid grasp of the basic mechanics and at least a workable level of skill.

[@RyanHellyer]

I once thought that Lex interviewing Putin would be great. But since seeing him interview other major politicians, I've totally changed my mind on this. He is terrible at asking the questions that need to be asked unfortunately. He's great with non-political interviews though. Having said this, I'd still watch an interview between him and Putin though.

[@ForWater-m4s]

do presidents give interviews to little bloggers?

[@danielcreamer9669]

Good vegetables as ever!