Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has declared he “despises” Russians and refused to conduct a recent podcast interview in Russian, despite being fluent in the language.
The three-hour conversation with Russian-American podcaster Lex Fridman, released Sunday, was conducted in a mix of Ukrainian, English, and Russian, with Zelensky explaining his decision in blunt terms.
“I speak [Russian] perfectly,” Zelensky said, “but I won’t do so because this is how it is. The people who attack us speak Russian... That’s why I honestly despise these people, as they are deaf.”
Zelensky argued that he had addressed Russians in their language during the early days of the conflict in 2022 but claimed they “did not listen” and “speak the language of weapons.” He added that part of Russia’s justification for its military actions —the defense of Russian-speaking people — was another reason for his refusal to use the language.
“The occupation began in supposed defense of the Russian language, and that’s why, with all due respect, I would like to give an interview in Ukrainian,” Zelensky said.
Despite his stated refusal, Zelensky repeatedly switched to Russian during the interview to clarify his thoughts or deliver profanities. Fridman later admitted that the “most dynamic and powerful conversation between us” took place in Russian.
The Ukrainian president’s language choice was a key point of the podcast, with Fridman initially suggesting that the interview would be “most effective and impactful” if conducted in Russian, the only language both men speak fluently. However, Zelensky rejected the idea, linking his decision to Russia’s military actions and his personal disdain for its leadership and people.
The podcast offered a revealing glimpse into Zelensky’s rhetoric, as he used the platform to lash out at Russians, insisting he had no respect for Russian President Vladimir Putin or the people who support him. “I respect neither the leader nor the director of today’s Russia, nor the people. I just... that’s it,” Zelensky said
The majority of Ukrainian citizens can speak or at least understand Russian. However, since the 2014 US-backed coup in Kiev, the new authorities have abolished Russian as an official regional language and adopted policies aimed at its suppression. In 2019, the Ukrainian parliament passed a law requiring Ukrainian to be used exclusively in nearly all aspects of public life, including education, entertainment, politics, business, and the service industry.
Moscow has repeatedly denounced Kiev’s crackdown on Russian culture and language as discrimination, insisting that “forced Ukrainization” violates international law and infringes upon the rights of native Russian speakers, who make up around a quarter of the population.
Kiev has sharply intensified its de-Russification efforts since the escalation of the conflict with Moscow in February 2022.
Ukrainian lawmakers have since imposed blanket bans on Russian-language works of art, concerts and performances, as well as movies, books, and songs. The study of Russian in schools and universities has also been outlawed.