President Zelensky on the path to peace in Ukraine; Finland’s President on being a bridge between the US and Europe; Russia’s kidnapping of Ukrainian children; A female soldier in a Ukraine tells her story

Summary

Fareed Zakaria GPS – September 14, 2025

Episode Title: President Zelensky on the Path to Peace in Ukraine; Finland’s President on Bridging US-Europe; Russia’s Kidnapping of Ukrainian Children; A Female Soldier’s Story

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Overview

This episode, recorded from Kyiv, Ukraine, delves into the state of Ukraine amidst ongoing Russian aggression, the evolving realities on the ground, and efforts on the diplomatic, humanitarian, and military fronts. Fareed Zakaria interviews Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Finland's President Alexander Stubb, shares the harrowing experience of a Ukrainian teen kidnapped by Russians, and highlights the story of Katya, a female combat medic in Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Zakaria’s On-the-Ground Impressions from Ukraine

Timestamps: 01:15–08:38

• The mood in Ukraine is tense and anxious, with constant drone attacks and air raid warnings disrupting daily life.
• Despite fatigue and fear, there’s a strong sense of resilience and a lack of desire to surrender.
• Zakaria criticizes Western responses to Russian provocations as initially weak, arguing that Putin responds only to demonstrations of strength (“probe with bayonets” mentality).
• He notes that even preemptive Western concessions under the Trump administration failed to move Putin towards compromise.

“The central question in everyone’s mind: what is the Trump administration’s actual goal?” — Fareed Zakaria (07:36)

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2. Interview with President Volodymyr Zelensky

Timestamps: 08:38–14:37

Zelensky’s View on the Trump-Putin Summit

• Zelensky is cautious about claiming outcomes, but acknowledges that Putin benefited from the meeting, especially the optics and the lack of commitments to a ceasefire or applying pressure.

  • “For Putin it was successful. Meeting first with President of the United States, second on the territory of the United States…he postponed sanctions and postponed any strong pressure.” — Zelensky (09:20)

• On his relationship with Trump:

  • “I think that we have good relations with the United States, with President Trump. And right around him, a lot of different voices.” — Zelensky (10:22)

Territorial Compromises

• Zakaria asks if Ukraine would accept territorial concessions temporarily for peace.
• Zelensky firmly rejects this, pointing to the high national cost and lack of trust in Putin:
  • “We know that we can't trust Putin. He will not stop... It's our land, it's our people, it's our nation, it's our history, our identity.” — Zelensky (11:35)

Readiness for Negotiations

• Zelensky is open to direct talks with Putin, but with an outcome-focused agenda and support from the West:
  • “I'm ready to speak with him. But not through Americans, not through Europeans. With their support, yes, but not through.” (12:06)

Audience Q&A

• Poland’s Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski emphasizes the need for rapid, concrete partner support—especially financing for air defense—and denounces continued Western business with Russia:
  • “We need financing from our partners. These are not global decisions. These are fast decisions that must be done today.” — Sikorski (14:14)

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3. Interview with Finland’s President Alexander Stubb

Timestamps: 16:25–21:31

Finland's Role as a Bridge

• President Stubb downplays his individual influence, framing Finland as a 'back office' mediator due to its long border and historic ties with Russia.
  • “I think that Finland is very much in the back office. So we're trying to have a dialogue with President Trump, trying to have a dialogue with President Zelensky...” — Stubb (16:47)

Trump’s Post-Summit Position

• The summit kept the process alive, with a focus on security guarantees and trilateral talks.
• Stubb stresses the patience required in peace mediation, hinting at ongoing frustrations:
  • “I do feel that the president...is getting increasingly frustrated with Putin and increasingly impatient.” — Stubb (18:34)

On Territorial Integrity

• Stubb supports Ukraine’s maximalist demands for full sovereignty and territorial integrity:

  • “I would never like for that to happen to Ukraine. So that's why I think it's important that we focus on independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity for Ukraine.” — Stubb (18:54)

• While a ceasefire along current lines of control could begin negotiation, he rejects preemptive land swaps.

  • “If you establish that ceasefire, that is when the negotiations actually begin about land and other elements.” — Stubb (19:34)

Confidence in Negotiations

• On Trump’s approach:
  • “Never underestimate the capacity of President Trump to negotiate a deal...peace mediation is a business of patience.” — Stubb (20:25)

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4. Russia’s Kidnapping of Ukrainian Children: Vlad’s Story

Timestamps: 23:29–33:44

Vlad’s Abduction and Ordeal

• Vlad Rudenko, a Ukrainian teen, shares his direct account of being abducted by Russian soldiers, transported to Crimea, and forced through a harsh re-education campaign.

  • “On 8th of October, three Russian soldiers broke into my apartment...17 buses were waiting for us to take us to Crimea...” — Vlad (24:25)

• Forbidden to speak Ukrainian and forced to surrender personal items, Vlad clings to his national identity:

  • “I had a small Ukrainian flag...as I was looking at it, I remembered my family and hoped to return to Ukraine.” — Vlad (25:22)

Acts of Defiance and Solitary Confinement

• He famously swapped a Russian flag for his underwear in protest, sparking punishment and several days of solitary confinement.
  • “One day...I went and took the Russian flag down, replacing it with my underwear, and threw the Russian flag to the trash...” — Vlad (26:13)
• The isolation led to severe distress:
  • “I am 16 years old and I had suicidal thoughts of cutting my veins or my throat or hanging myself…” — Vlad (27:52)

Recruitment to Fight Against Ukraine

• Russia attempts to indoctrinate and train Ukrainian teenagers for combat against their own country.
  • “Russia really recruits Ukrainian teenagers to fight against their country, trying to convince and force them…” — Vlad (28:36)

Escape and Mother’s Heroism

• Vlad’s mother sneaks through hostile territory, survives interrogation, and is only released (with Vlad) after recording a forced propaganda video.
  • “Only after filming that video we were released. That's how I returned in Ukraine with the help of Save Ukraine. They helped me and my mom very much.” — Vlad (31:52)

Message to Other Kidnapped Children

• Vlad’s encouragement:

  • “Come back, we are waiting for you.” — Vlad (33:33)

• Zakaria notes that the International Criminal Court has issued war crimes warrants for Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova for this systematic abduction (33:44). Russia denies the accusations.

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5. Profile: Katya, Female Special Forces Medic

Timestamps: 35:16–40:16

Katya’s Motivation and Role

• Katya left her life and law studies in France to return home and serve. She was drawn by the cause of national values and democracy.

  • “I want to live in democratic, free, independent country.” — Katya (36:15)

• Her daily life is unpredictable, constantly moving with drone units to the front lines, adapting to new challenges.

  • “I work in special operation forces. I'm a combat medic...my team lead calls me and says we have a mission in some place in Ukraine...” — Katya (36:44)

Harsh Realities

• The most difficult part is losing teammates despite her best efforts as a medic.
  • “The hardest things I think you know, when you do your medical work and do all which you can and more, but your teammate unfortunately died, it's the most difficult.” — Katya (37:29)

Being a Woman in the Ukrainian Army

• While the Ukrainian army was not ready for so many women, change is happening, though basics like female uniforms were initially lacking.

  • “I called some Ukrainian NGO Zemlachki and I asked them to send me female uniform because we don't have a female uniform.” — Katya (38:08)

• She doesn’t perceive sexism but notices over-protection from male comrades:

  • “They try to protect me in critical situations...sometimes I say slow down. I'm a soldier like you.” — Katya (39:20)

Endurance and Hope

• Katya remains motivated, though she doubts a quick or fair end to the war:
  • “I have a strong motivation to do what I do. So I continued to do my work as long time as my country to need it...I don't believe about the fast peace. Fast fair peace.” — Katya (39:40)

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Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• "For most, this is a battle for their survival as a nation. People just seem resigned to a grim, long fight." — Fareed Zakaria (04:29)
• "We know that we can't trust Putin. He will not stop... It's our land, it's our people, it's our nation, it's our history, our identity." — President Zelensky (11:35)
• “If you establish that ceasefire, that is when the negotiations actually begin about land and other elements.” — President Stubb (19:34)
• “I am 16 years old and I had suicidal thoughts...because I was forbidden to do anything and I could do absolutely nothing with it.” — Vlad Rudenko (27:52)
• "Come back, we are waiting for you." — Vlad Rudenko's message to abducted Ukrainian children (33:33)
• “I work in special operation forces. I'm a combat medic...every morning you wake up, you don't know where you're going to go.” — Katya (36:44–37:08)
• “Sometimes I say slow down. I'm a soldier like you.” — Katya, pushing for equality (39:26)

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Timestamps for Rapid Reference

• Zakaria’s Ukraine Impressions: 01:15–08:38
• Zelensky Interview: 08:38–14:37
• Stubb Interview: 16:25–21:31
• Vlad's Story: 23:29–33:44
• Katya’s Story: 35:16–40:16

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Tone & Style

• Throughout, the episode balances sobering realism with stories of individual and collective perseverance. Zakaria’s probing but respectful questions elicit revealing answers from leaders and civilians alike, capturing a nation’s exhaustion, pride, and ongoing resilience.

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This summary captures all critical topics, memorable quotes, and episodes’ nuanced perspectives—serving as an engaging resource for those who haven’t listened.

Transcript

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[Fareed Zakaria]

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It's not clean unless it's Oxiclean this is gps, the global public Square. Welcome to all of you in the United States and around the world. I'm Fareed Zakaria, coming to you from Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. Behind me is Saint Michaels, an iconic symbol of this city. Today on the program. Last weekend, Russia launched the largest air attack on Kiev since the war began three and a half years ago.

[President Volodymyr Zelensky]

It's our land.

[Fareed Zakaria]

I'll talk to President Zelensky about the current state of war and the prospects for peace.

[President Volodymyr Zelensky]

We know that we can't trust Putin. He will not stop.

[Fareed Zakaria]

I'll also talk to Alexander Stuk, the president of Finland, a nation that just joined NATO two years ago. I'll ask him about Ukraine's hope to be part of that alliance. Also, Ukraine says Russia has taken at least 20,000 of its children, stripped them of their Ukrainian identity, and re educated them. I will tell you the amazing story of Vlad, who was kidnapped by Russians at gunpoint at just 16 years of age and then managed to escape. But first, here's my take. Traveling to Ukraine this year has felt different, more tense even, than the months after the 2022 full scale invasion. The new sense of anxiety was palpable before I entered the country. My flight landed in Lublin, Poland, the closest major Polish airport to the Ukrainian border. But I couldn't get off the plane. The airport had been temporarily shut down. Overnight, NATO jets shot down a swarm of Russian drones that had entered Polish airspace, and the country was on high alert. In that atmosphere, a set of unattended bags at Lublin airport understandably triggered an emergency search. The dominant facts of life in Ukraine are now Russian drone attacks and therefore ubiquitous air raid warnings. For the first time since the war began, I downloaded an app that notifies me about air alerts. Most attacks come after dark, and locals complain about endless nights of constant interruptions trips to shelters and sleeplessness. Many have turned their phones off, banking on Ukraine's air defense system that so far has intercepted most incoming projectiles. But the Russians are getting better, and some of them do get through, as happened last weekend when an Iskandar cruise missile hit the main government building in the heart of Kyiv, which houses the offices of many cabinet ministers. Kyiv is still a beautiful and lively city, full of cafes and trendy shops. But all this is now overlaid by a jittery new normal. Some people talk about leaving Kyiv simply to get away from the air raids and sleeplessness. Others have devised their own strategies to cope. But none of this translates into a weakening of resolve. Surrender is not really an option. For most, this is a battle for their survival as a nation. People just seem resigned to a grim, long fight. In a way, the mood inside Ukraine mirrors some of the realities outside. There was some sense of movement a few months ago. President Trump seemed determined and energized to end the war. He even appeared to have a plan of sorts that might have seemed unjust, but was a practical strategy in its own way. He would force Ukraine to accept terms that seemed likely to get Putin to agree to end the war. American officials, including Trump, made clear that Russia would likely get to keep what it had conquered, that Ukraine would never become a member of NATO, that the US Would not send in troops to guarantee Ukraine's sovereignty, and that Trump looked forward to re engaging with Russia economically after the war was over. In other words, before even getting to the negotiating table, Washington agreed to most Russian demands. It didn't work. Despite those preemptive concessions, despite a personal invitation to Putin to negotiate with Trump, despite a warm red carpet welcome, Putin stood his ground. His demands for Ukraine have always been maximalist. He wants a Ukraine that is territorially dismembered, economically precarious and militarily weak. This would make it, like Belarus and Georgia, other parts of Russia's tsarist sphere of influence, totally beholden to Moscow. Any outcome that allows for a sovereign, independent, pro Western liberal democracy with a functioning market economy would be for Putin, a dangerous loss. The peace overtures and concessions seem to have convinced Putin that, far from backing down, he can press forward. In the last few weeks, Russian attacks have damaged an American factory in western Ukraine and the offices of the British Council and the European Union Mission headquarters in Kyiv, and it has now violated Polish airspace. Until the incursion into Poland, there had been no Western response other than words of condemnation. Putin seems to be following Lenin's famous probe with Bayonets strategy as recounted by Richard Nixon, of all people. If you encounter mush, proceed. If you encounter steel, withdraw. Finally, after the violation of Polish airspace, NATO fighter jets were activated and shot down the Russian drones. Some here feel that Europe is often slow and feckless, but no one doubts that it wants Ukraine to win this war. The central question in everyone's mind what is the Trump administration's actual goal? Trump speaks of putting pressure on Putin, but then does this in a bizarre indirect fashion, punishing India for buying Russian oil under an oil cap scheme promoted by Washington, rather than punishing Russia itself. He talks about ending the war, but speaks fondly of Putin and the economic deals that America will make with him. Neither he nor anyone in his administration acts like securing a free and independent Ukraine is itself a crucial goal. The administration has never outlined a plan to help Ukraine fight with greater military might. The only real pressure that Russia will feel immediately. And as long as what Putin hears from Washington is mush, he will keep pressing his bayonet forward. Go to CNN.com fareed for a link to my Washington Post column this week. And let's get started. I want to turn now to the man at the center of this country's fight. That is, of course, President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has led Ukraine against more than three and a half years of full scale Russian attacks. Today, Moscow's troops occupy about a fifth of the country and have been inching forward over the summer in the East. I sat down with Zelensky on Friday at the Yalta European Strategy Conference in Kyiv. I first asked him what President Putin had gained from his summit with President Trump in Alaska.

[Fareed Zakaria (Interviewer)]

What Putin wanted was to delay sanctions, to delay any further measures that were taken that would pressure Russia and to pretend that he was willing to negotiate. So wouldn't you say that Putin, in a sense, got everything he wanted from this meeting and Trump did not?

[President Volodymyr Zelensky]

I can't. I don't know who from them got something or everything, I don't know really. But I think that for Putin it was successful. Meeting first with President of the United States, second on the territory of the United States. Third, he got images with the President of the United States and he didn't promise for ceasefire. But again, maybe he promised something to President Trump, I don't know, but he didn't. So. And he postponed sanctions and postponed any strong pressure. What really Putin understands that Trump can do.

[Fareed Zakaria (Interviewer)]

You said you're not sure what was debated, what was discussed and agreed to.

[President Volodymyr Zelensky]

I don't know.

[Fareed Zakaria (Interviewer)]

I don't know, President President Trump called you afterwards. Did what did he tell you?

[President Volodymyr Zelensky]

I had so many conversations with him, really, I don't remember all the details.

[Fareed Zakaria]

You've become a very good diplomat. How is your, we'll see.

[Fareed Zakaria (Interviewer)]

How is your relationship with him, with President, with President Trump now?

[President Volodymyr Zelensky]

Very good. What can I say? I think that we have, I think that we have good relations with, with the United States, with, with the President Trump. And right around him, a lot of different voices.

[Fareed Zakaria (Interviewer)]

There are people in the United States who say, look, the Ukrainians need to recognize they're not going to get that territory back. And if Putin wants all of Donetsk, if that is the price of peace, if Ukraine can be sovereign and independent and a member of the, of the west and Europe, so give away a little bit of territory. And I ask you this because there is this view in America. What is, what is the response? Why not, if you really want peace, why not accept at least for now, maybe not legally, but accept the reality and say that is where that is, we will take as much as we can in order to get peace.

[President Volodymyr Zelensky]

I'm not sure that in the United States people support this idea, like Americans said, the swap the territories because people really recognize territorial integrity of Ukraine and they know the price of all these battles from the very beginning, I mean more than 11 years ago and high price from the very, very beginning of full scale invasion. And we know that we can't trust Putin. He will not stop tell. There is the order of the points of discussions. The first we need meeting with outcome of ceasefire and he is not ready for the meeting for today. It's true, yes. Then if he wants to speak about territories and about some historical crazy things and etc. I'm ready to speak with him. But not through Americans, not through Europeans. With their support, yes, but not through it's our land, it's our people, it's our nation, it's our history, our identity.

[Fareed Zakaria (Interviewer)]

And that's why you're ready to meet face to face with us.

[President Volodymyr Zelensky]

Yes, face to face. You mentioned sometimes we need it, even if we don't love faces.

[Fareed Zakaria]

After I was done asking questions, I opened it up to the floor. And Poland's Foreign Minister Radek Sikorsky asked President Zelensky about what Ukraine needed to achieve a just and lasting peace.

[Radek Sikorski]

We cannot even raise the issue. How long would it take what we need if Russia constantly receives components for its missiles from various companies. So here there is no solution except to put sanctions on private companies of any state and this must stop the supply of components for missiles as regards long range fires. We were at the moment when practically the United States and other partners were thinking whether to give Ukraine long range weaponry or not. And we have found our own. As of now, we have our own long range capabilities. We just lack financing. There is financing for drones. I'm not saying that to mock any of the partners, but it's not a solution, right? For 800 shaheds per day at Ukrainian territory we need at least one 1500 interceptors. The price of one interceptor is €3000. That is the answer to how to stop the shaheds. And so that Russia does not want Tomorrow to send 800 shaheds, we must send 1000 drones to their territory to retaliate. So what we need from the partners to counter shaheds, we need financing from our partners. These are not global decisions. These are fast decisions that must be done today.

[Fareed Zakaria]

My thanks to President Zelensky. Next on gps I talk to a European leader who has that most rare quality. He is liked by Donald Trump. Finland's President Alexander Stubb. Next.

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[Vlad Rudenko]

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[Fareed Zakaria]

See mintmobile.com Finland has been a leading voice for the Ukrainian cores. The Nordic Nation shares an 830 mile long border with Russia and joined NATO only in 2023, spurred on by Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine. More recently, Finland's president Alexander Stubb has become an important bridge between Donald Trump and the leaders of the European Union. Back now to the stage of the YES conference, this time with President Stoop.

[Fareed Zakaria (Interviewer)]

President Stubbe, pleasure to have you. Tell us, how did you develop, how has it happened that the president of Finland is now seen by Europeans, by people around the world, as one of the closest interlocutors with Donald Trump?

[President Alexander Stubb]

Well, I mean, I think Finns are actually usually quite down to earth and humble. So the first thing to say is that I certainly don't want to inflate my role. I think a country like Finland obviously has a long border with Russia. We have a long history and experience with Russia, but I think that Finland is very much in the back office. So we're trying to have a dialogue with President Trump, trying to have a dialogue with President Zelensky. But I firmly believe that it's the big players in Europe that are in the front office and doing the heavy lifting. If we can help a little bit in the background, I think that's good.

[Fareed Zakaria (Interviewer)]

So you were part of the European delegation that spoke to President Trump after the summit with Putin. What was your sense? Was President Trump disappointed, and if so, what was he planning to do about it?

[President Alexander Stubb]

My sense was that we wanted to keep the process alive, and out of that process was alive. In other words, we agreed to work on security guarantees or security arrangements together with Europe and the United States, and we also agreed to try to work at a bilateral trilateral between President Trump, Zelensky, and Putin. So, I mean, disappointment wasn't the word. I think it was an important meeting to have, and now the process moves on. I think what we need to understand in peace mediation is that a lot of times it takes patience.

[Fareed Zakaria (Interviewer)]

Do you feel that going forward, President Trump is now willing to put more pressure on Putin, including direct military pressure, which seems to be the most important, immediate one?

[President Alexander Stubb]

I don't think direct military pressure is in the cards. I mean, we have our military planning for the security guarantees, and they have been pretty much finalized. But I do feel that the president, and I'm sort of speaking under the authority of General Kellogg here, is getting increasingly frustrated with Putin and increasingly impatient.

[Fareed Zakaria (Interviewer)]

When you think about what it would take to end the war, do you think that Ukraine has to be prepared for some painful compromises regarding territory?

[President Alexander Stubb]

I would never like for that to happen to Ukraine. So that's why I think it's important that we focus on independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity for Ukraine.

[Fareed Zakaria (Interviewer)]

But let me ask the uncomfortable question, which is if you insist on those what I would describe as maximalist demands that Ukraine retain all its territory when it has lost about 20% of it to Russia, and there's no plan to regain that. Isn't that an argument, then that means there will not be an end to the war?

[President Alexander Stubb]

Well, not necessarily. So let's start from the basic basics. What has been proposed is an unconditional ceasefire on the line of contact, which is basically the 20%. So no land swaps whatsoever. If you establish that ceasefire, that is when the negotiations actually begin about land and other elements. So I don't think that we should go ahead of ourselves. What we're seeing is more or less constant maximalist requests and demands coming from Russia. So, therefore, I think it's very important that Ukraine continues to push for maximalist demands as well.

[Fareed Zakaria (Interviewer)]

You've spoken to President Trump a lot.

[Fareed Zakaria]

Over these, over the last year.

[Fareed Zakaria (Interviewer)]

Do you feel that he is getting closer to wanting to put the kind of pressure on Putin that would really make a difference?

[President Alexander Stubb]

Yeah, definitely. I mean, you know, never underestimate the capacity of President Trump to negotiate a deal. I mean, that's what I've learned. And looking at it close up, obviously he's being engaged in international affairs over the past little bit less than a year, very actively. I mean, he's negotiated peace agreements, he's negotiated ceasefires. And the difficulty, of course, if you are the President of the United States, is you're trying to juggle many different issues. So, you know, Israel's attack on Qatar came straight in the middle of a discussion that we had on, you know, what are we going to do with. With, with Russia and Putin. So I am confident that in the long run, we'll. We'll find a solution. You know, we don't know what that solution is going to be. But I repeat, once again, peace mediation is a business of patience. So I'm confident that eventually we'll get there. Certainly, we're closer to peace today than we were yesterday.

[Fareed Zakaria (Interviewer)]

President Stoke, thank you very much.

[Fareed Zakaria]

Pleasure.

[President Alexander Stubb]

Thank you, Fareed.

[Fareed Zakaria]

Next on gps, I'll tell you an incredible story about a Ukrainian teen named Vlad who was kidnapped by Russian soldiers and brought to a camp to be indoctrinated in all things Russia. He is not alone. Vlad Rudenko may be just 19 years old, but one thing is certain, he is a fighter. He is one of eight children raised in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, near the Black Sea. He learned to box, in part to show his siblings how to be strong. He needed that strength. After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. In March of that year, Russian troops took Kherson. That October, they took Vlad. He was kidnapped from his home by armed Russian Soldiers. And he is not alone. The Ukraine The Ukrainian government says that nearly 20,000 children have been taken from Ukraine since the war began. But the real number, many say, is likely much higher. Save Ukraine is one important organization that is working to repatriate the children, and they were the ones that helped Vlad escape. Eight months after his capture. I sat down with Vlad at Save Ukraine's Hope and Healing center this week outside Kyiv. So tell me, what was it like when you first heard about the Russians coming to Kherson?

[Vlad Rudenko]

I have friends and the day before the full scale invasion, we were sitting at the playground next to their house talking about how we were about to face Russians if they would come to Kherson. We 15, 16 year olds were talking about how we are going to kill Russian soldiers. The next morning my mom woke me up saying, honey, wake up, the war has begun. The next thing I hear is a passing missile towards Chornobaiivka airfield. I stand up, go to the balcony and see that missile flying towards that airfield. And then I really comprehended that war has for sure begun.

[Fareed Zakaria]

Eight months after the invasion, you're home alone, right? And what happens then?

[Vlad Rudenko]

On 8th of October, three Russian soldiers broke into my apartment with firearms and told me to pack up in 30 minutes and follow them in unknown direction to me. I didn't have a cell phone at the time. It was also early in the morning, so I couldn't even think of leaving a note for my mom. I packed up and had to follow them. 17 buses were waiting for us to take us to Crimea, where we were given the paper with the date of entry. The date of exit is missing. And then I started to think that I might never return to Ukraine.

[Fareed Zakaria]

So the first place you go to in Crimea is this place called Camp Friendship. Tell us what that was like.

[Vlad Rudenko]

First of all, after we arrived, the chief of security Astakhov directed us to give up everything Ukrainian from our stuff and forbid us to speak Ukrainian language completely. I had a small Ukrainian flag that I didn't give up and hung in my room. And always as I was looking at it, I remembered my family and hoped to return to Ukraine as soon as possible. As we arrived, Astakhov told us that we will not come back to Ukraine, that we might stay up to 6, 10, whatever years.

[Fareed Zakaria]

So when you were at Camp Friendship, there was a Russian flag in the campground and you didn't like that. Tell the story of what you did and what the Russians did to you.

[Vlad Rudenko]

One day when I was in the camp, the idea of taking the Russian Flag down crossed my mind for what Russia had done to me, to my family, separated us. And in the evening, I went and took the Russian flag down, replacing it with my underwear, and threw the Russian flag to the trash in the bathroom and went to the room. And the next morning, everyone was looking. Not on the Russian flag, but on my underwear, listening to the Russian national anthem. But in three days, the chief of security, Astakhov, found me and gave me two options. Either we go to the police or put me in isolation for seven days. I chose the second option to stay in the camp, but in an isolated room. The first day, I protested, saying that I didn't want to be there, that my will was being harassed. They restricted me from seeing anybody, from reading books, from being outside, locked me in the room with the bed, toilet, and a little window with bars.

[Fareed Zakaria]

As a teenager, to be put in solitary confinement sounds just so brutal. Would you say that was the darkest period for you of all? During this period.

[Vlad Rudenko]

Yes.

[Fareed Zakaria]

Why?

[Vlad Rudenko]

Because every morning I was waking up with the thought of, why would I live this life if I might be here until the time my mom comes here and takes me? It could have lasted for a very long time. I am 16 years old and I had suicidal thoughts of cutting my veins or my throat or hanging myself because I was forbidden to do anything and I could do absolutely nothing with it.

[Fareed Zakaria]

From here, they send you to a military academy and they teach you how to shoot a gun. Did they think they were going to teach you to be a Russian soldier who would fight against the Ukrainian army?

[Vlad Rudenko]

To be honest, I didn't have such thoughts. But as I See now on YouTube, Instagram telegram that Russia really recruits Ukrainian teenagers to fight against their country, trying to convince and force them in any way possible to fight on an enemy's side. I was 16 at the time, and I didn't think about it then, but later I was told that we were about to move to Krasnodar to be deployed on navy destroyers for trainings. And then, of course, I started to think about all that and about what would happen to my family back in Ukraine.

[Fareed Zakaria]

Ukrainian officials say that one of Russia's objectives in kidnapping Ukrainian children is to train future soldiers. And researchers confirmed that many of these children do end up in combat training. Next, Vlad's ultimate escape from Russia and Russian control and the heroic feats of his mother to make it all happen.

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[Fareed Zakaria]

This next one's for all you CarMax shoppers who just want to buy a car your way.

[Vlad Rudenko]

Wanna check some cars out in person?

[President Alexander Stubb]

Uh huh.

[Fareed Zakaria]

Wanna look some more from your house?

[President Volodymyr Zelensky]

Okay.

[Fareed Zakaria]

Wanna pretend you know about engines? Nah, I'll just chat with CarMax online instead.

[President Volodymyr Zelensky]

Wanna get pre qualified from your couch?

[Katya (Ukrainian Medic)]

Woo.

[Fareed Zakaria]

Wanna get that car? Hey SAP, you wanna do it your way?

[Vlad Rudenko]

Wanna drive CarMax?

[Fareed Zakaria]

In 2023, Vlad's mother, she had had enough. She wanted no, she needed her son back. So she began a hero's journey to find her son. She went through Ukraine, Poland, Belarus, into Russia, which is of course enemy territory, down to Russian occupied Lazurne in Kherson, where Vlad was being held in a military academy. She demanded to be reunited with her son, as reported in the publication Christianity Today. When she arrived, she was held for three days and interrogated and threatened with 25 years in jail. Her release and the release of her son had a very important condition. We'll pick up the story there. They say they'll let you out if you and your mother record a video. What did they make you say in the video and how did you feel? Because I assume you were saying things you didn't believe in.

[Vlad Rudenko]

She had three days of interrogation and only after three days they say we have to make a video of us saying that we will stay in Russia, that Russia is a great state that doesn't target civilians and doesn't kidnap Ukrainian children. That my mom sent me there to the camps. Only after filming that video we were released. That's how I returned in Ukraine with the help of Save Ukraine. They helped me and my mom very much.

[Fareed Zakaria]

There are thousands and thousands of other children whom Russia has taken who are still in Russia. Some of them in these camps, some of them in military academies. What would you say to them? What is your message to them if they could hear you?

[Vlad Rudenko]

Firstly, they are very afraid that they are not awaited in Ukraine. They think that Ukraine has forgotten them, but that's not true. I am an example of someone who was returned in 2023. I was 17 at the time. The experience of coming back to Ukraine was eye opening. Being in Russia under occupation, in Lazurne, under influence of that insane Russian brainwashing machine where there is no freedom of speech, I was restricted in everything I couldn't go out for a walk, couldn't talk to my family, couldn't meet anyone and start any relations. But back in Ukraine, I bloomed, I saw the world. I started boxing again. Where Russia is present, freedom of speech doesn't exist. To all the kids there. Come back, we are waiting for you.

[Fareed Zakaria]

My thanks to Vlad for sharing that extraordinary story. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for war crimes for Vladimir Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova Belova, the head of the children's program in Russia. The charges are related to the kidnap and attempted re education of Ukrainian children. Moscow denies accusations of war crimes and claims it took these children out of war zones for their own protection. Next on gps, meet this female medic in the Ukrainian military whose job is so secretive she cannot show us her face. War changes a society. World War II brought millions of women into the workforce, transforming female roles and setting the stage for greater social equality. Since Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine, the number of women serving in the Ukrainian military has more than doubled. According to the Economist, there are now around 70,000 female fighters, all of them volunteers. Katya is one of these women. She serves as a medic in Ukraine's special operations forces. And because she's in special ops, she must keep her face hidden to protect her identity. So Katya, tell me a little bit about what life was like for you before the war began.

[Katya (Ukrainian Medic)]

Before the war began, I had a very nice, very beautiful life in small France city where I was studying and I just enjoyed my life. I want to become a lawyer and I dream about in one day. I dreamed to go back to the Ukraine and do something great for my country, to change something for people.

[Fareed Zakaria]

So to make the system better here.

[Katya (Ukrainian Medic)]

Yes, yes.

[Fareed Zakaria]

And when the war happened? What happened?

[Katya (Ukrainian Medic)]

What did you decide to do when the war happened? I remember I just walked up and see this news and I decided for myself to back immediately to my country.

[Fareed Zakaria]

But you never thought of staying in France? You wanted to go back to Ukraine?

[Katya (Ukrainian Medic)]

Yes, I. You know, in this war I fighting for the values. It's one of the point. Why participate to Ukrainian army, its values? I want to live in democratic, free, independent country.

[Fareed Zakaria]

So tell me, what does a day look like for what you do now?

[Katya (Ukrainian Medic)]

I work in special operation forces. I'm a combat medic. And for example, I can walk up at 7 o' clock and my team lead calls me and says we have a mission in some place in Ukraine. We go in some city.

[Fareed Zakaria]

So every morning you wake up, you don't know where you're going to go?

[Katya (Ukrainian Medic)]

Yes. I work with drone units and we always change the place where we from drones flight.

[Fareed Zakaria]

So it's where you're going to launch the drone. So you go to wherever and it's usually on the front lines.

[Katya (Ukrainian Medic)]

Yes.

[Fareed Zakaria]

What do you think is the hardest thing you've done since you've joined the army?

[Katya (Ukrainian Medic)]

The hardest things I think you know, when you do your medical work and do all which you can and more, but your teammate unfortunately died, it's the most difficult.

[Fareed Zakaria]

You couldn't help the.

[Katya (Ukrainian Medic)]

Yes, you do all which you can, which you know, but the miracle unfortunately impossible in the front line.

[Fareed Zakaria]

Tell me what it's like being a woman in an army in Ukraine.

[Katya (Ukrainian Medic)]

You know, the Ukrainian army isn't ready for too many women previously, but now they try to changing. And I remember my first year in the army and I call some Ukrainian NGO Zemlachki and I asked them to send me female uniform because we don't have a female uniform. And the second problem, it's. I think it's naturally but I don't feel the, you know, there's some sexism or something like that or discrimination. I don't have problem with that in my unit. But I see how my teammates try to protect me in critical situations. They. I don't know why they want to protect me. Like, you know, I'm a chief of the unit. I don't know why.

[Fareed Zakaria]

Do you appreciate that or do you feel like, no, let me be equal?

[Katya (Ukrainian Medic)]

Yes. But sometimes I say slow down. I'm a soldier like you.

[Fareed Zakaria]

We're now in almost the fourth year of the war. Are you getting tired? How do you feel?

[Katya (Ukrainian Medic)]

I have a strong motivation to do what I do. So I continued to do my work as long time as my country to need it.

[Fareed Zakaria]

Do you think it's going to be a long time?

[Katya (Ukrainian Medic)]

It can be, yes. I don't believe about, you know, the fast peace. Fast fair peace.

[President Alexander Stubb]

Yeah.

[Fareed Zakaria]

If it's fast, it won't be fair.

[Katya (Ukrainian Medic)]

Yes.

[Fareed Zakaria]

Well, Katya, thank you so much.

[Katya (Ukrainian Medic)]

Thank you so much.

[Fareed Zakaria]

That is our show. Thanks to all of you for being part of it. From Kyiv this week. I will see you next week.

[Fareed Zakaria (Interviewer)]

Tav, I got news for your ears.

[Fareed Zakaria]

The podcast.

[Vlad Rudenko]

I am your host, Michael Ian Black.

[Podcast Guest]

I will say what's impressive about is that it doesn't matter.

[Fareed Zakaria]

No.

[Podcast Guest]

Come hell or high water, he's gonna reshape American health industry.

[Fareed Zakaria]

There's just something off about the guy.

[Podcast Guest]

Well and his family has even come out the entire Kennedy clan, which is. It's hard to get all the Kennedys on one the same page. They hate him.

[Fareed Zakaria (Interviewer)]

Have I got news for your ears. Releases new episodes every Wednesday.

[Vlad Rudenko]

Don't miss an episode.

[Fareed Zakaria (Interviewer)]

Follow us wherever you get your podcasts.