President Zelenskyy: It's Time To Tell You The Truth About This War! I Found 500 Bodies!

The Unimaginable Onslaught [00:00:00]

• President Zelensky describes the early days of the full-scale invasion as a period of immense pain and sleeplessness.
• He recounts the shock of seeing a massive 64-kilometer Russian military convoy heading towards Kyiv.
• Zelensky was in a bunker within his office when President Biden called, offering an evacuation.

  "I need ammunition, not a ride."

The Horrors of Bucha [00:01:00]

• Zelensky identifies the liberation of Bucha as his hardest day, describing widespread death and torture.
• He details finding bodies with hands tied, tortured, and buried in mass graves.
• The discovery of such atrocities raises profound questions about forgiveness and justice.

  "When you see a mass today finding a grave in the US or in Britain, God forbid, with 500 tortured people, how do you forgive?"

The Human Toll [00:02:00]

• Zelensky admits to not sleeping, attributing it to his responsibility and constant communication with air defense operators.
• He describes the immense emotional burden of awarding medals to parents who have lost children.
• The experience of comforting grieving parents, some asking for a hug, is deeply affecting.

  "I look at these people, at their eyes, at what they say. Many of them say something. And there are people who just ask for a hug."

Resilience and Optimism [00:03:00]

• Despite the hardships, Zelensky maintains optimism, believing that good will ultimately prevail.
• He acknowledges the emotional rollercoaster of war, especially for families who have lost loved ones.
• He finds strength in his children and the need to set an example for them.

  "I have to set an example for my kids. This is the way that is not."

A Childhood in Transition [00:04:00]

• Zelensky was born in the Soviet Union and grew up in an independent Ukraine, a generation straddling two different eras.
• He contrasts his upbringing in a regular, not well-off family with his children's experience in an independent, patriotic Ukraine.
• His father was a professor, and Zelensky values education, honesty, and parental love.

  "I'm from the generation that, uh, straddled, uh, to, uh, let's say two different lives."

An Unconventional Path to Power [00:05:00]

• As a child, Zelensky's aspirations varied, including wanting to be a diplomat or border guard.
• He pursued law but found himself drawn to media and comedy, joining a comedy group at 17.
• He voiced Paddington Bear in the Ukrainian version of the film and appeared in several feature films.

  "I really, really loved, I think Paddington is a very cool thing."

From Actor to President [00:06:00]

• Zelensky starred as a history teacher who accidentally becomes president in the satirical TV series "Servant of the People."
• He found it bizarre to later become president, an idea that originated from the show.
• The concept of a "Servant of the People" party resonated due to the political climate in Ukraine.

  "The person from the people without any, uh, history, without any political background becomes president."

The Genesis of War [00:07:00]

• Zelensky believes the war truly began with the occupation of Crimea in 2014, which was a slow, creeping occupation.
• He criticizes the lack of a clear order from Ukrainian authorities to defend their land at that time.
• He suggests that a stronger response in 2014 might have prevented the full-scale war.

  "Our mistake was not pushing them back."

Echoes of History [00:08:00]

• Zelensky's family, particularly his grandfather's brothers, were killed by Nazis during WWII.
• He finds it bizarre that Russia accuses Ukraine of having Nazis, given Ukraine's history of fighting fascism.
• Ukraine endured 100% occupation by Nazi Germany, unlike Russia.

  "It always sounded so bizarre when Russia accused us, Ukraine, of supposedly having Nazis."

The Empire's Collapse [00:09:00]

• Zelensky explains to a 16-year-old that empires collapse because people desire freedom.
• The Soviet Union's "iron curtain" was designed to prevent people from seeing life in the West.
• Putin, a "purely Soviet man," views the collapse of the Soviet Union as the greatest catastrophe and seeks to restore the empire.

  "Empires don't survive on freedom."

Ukraine's Crucial Role [00:10:00]

• Putin's ambition to restore the Soviet Union is linked to Ukraine's significance as the "forge of talent" and intellectual heart of the USSR.
• If Ukraine joins Europe, it would signify the collapse of Russia's imperial ambitions.
• Putin's actions in Chechnya foreshadowed his aggression towards Ukraine.

  "Because he believes that another major country is to blame for the collapse of the Soviet Union. Which one? The United States of America."

Pretexts for Invasion [00:11:00]

• Putin used language as a pretext to start the occupation of Crimea and Donbas, dividing society.
• He falsely claimed to be protecting Russian-speaking people.
• The invasion on February 24, 2022, was a full-scale war with missile strikes from multiple directions.

  "The pretext is always language."

The Timing of the Invasion [00:12:00]

• Zelensky believes Putin chose February 2022 for the invasion based on his plan and possibly misjudging US resolve.
• He recalls Biden offering evacuation, to which he responded, "I need ammunition, not a ride."
• Preemptive sanctions, which Zelensky requested, were not imposed by the US before the invasion.

  "I think that it was a little bit earlier. I don't remember. There was a Biden-Putin summit."

Underestimation of Ukraine [00:13:00]

• Russian forces, expecting a swift victory, carried only 3-10 days of rations and parade uniforms.
• They underestimated Ukraine's national identity and resolve to resist.
• The failure to capture Kyiv was a result of underestimating Ukrainian resistance and overestimating their own forces.

  "That's right. Exactly what you started with today. That Ukraine is not Russia."

The Battle for Kyiv [00:14:00]

• The Russian advance on Kyiv was rapid, with a 64-kilometer convoy of military vehicles.
• Zelensky's decision to stay in Kyiv was crucial for morale and to counter Russian disinformation.
• He describes the intense focus and rapid decision-making required during the initial days of the invasion.

  "They expected people to run and me."

The Hostomel Airport Battle [00:15:00]

• Seizing Hostomel airport was crucial for Russia to land troops and support units to capture Kyiv.
• A fierce battle ensued, with Ukrainian forces destroying the runway and shooting down Russian transport helicopters.
• The loss of Hostomel was a significant blow to Russia's plan to quickly take the capital.

  "They flew in with paratroopers. So they parachuted people into that airport to try and claim it."

Bucha's Genocide [00:16:00]

• Zelensky describes the discovery of mass graves and tortured bodies in Bucha as a genocide.
• He notes that even during WWII, fascists did not torture people in such a barbaric manner.
• The world press was brought to Bucha to witness the atrocities firsthand.

  "This was definitely pure looting when they occupied those towns on the way to Kyiv and around Kyiv."

The Weight of Justice [00:17:00]

• Zelensky expresses a desire for revenge but acknowledges the need for diplomacy as president.
• He believes that a "just peace" requires punishment for the guilty.
• The war has irreversibly changed him, leading to a re-evaluation of values.

  "My only dream is to end this war. I desperately want justice."

Enduring Support [00:18:00]

• Zelensky's wife, Alina, is his rock, providing support, love, and respect.
• His mother calls him daily, expressing worry and asking about the war's end.
• He misses his family deeply, even when they are near, due to the demands of his role.

  "We support each other. That's true."

The Current Reality [00:19:00]

• Approximately 18-19% of Ukrainian territory remains occupied by Russia, including Crimea and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• Russia continues to attack various parts of Ukraine with missiles and drones.
• Putin's objective appears to be taking key cities in the east and south, including Zaporizhia and Kherson.

  "So basically people can see that all of this is, all of this is, um, this is roughly, roughly, sorry, I'm not very good at drawing."

The Path to Peace [00:20:00]

• Zelensky believes a realistic path to peace requires justice and punishment for war crimes.
• He suggests that Trump could potentially bring Putin to the negotiating table due to their relationship.
• Zelensky hopes America will remain a strong, peaceful nation and expresses gratitude for its support.

  "Time is definitely on the side of those, who are open and ready for honest dialogue and fight."