In the room with President Zelenskyy

Summary

Summary of Podcast Episode: "In the Room with President Zelenskyy"

Podcast: The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim
Host: Yalda Hakim
Episode Title: In the Room with President Zelenskyy
Release Date: March 3, 2025

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1. Introduction: A Special Edition with President Zelenskyy

In this special edition of "The World," Sky News’ Yalda Hakim provides an exclusive debrief from her recent encounter with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Unlike the regular episodes co-hosted with Richard Engel, this edition delves into a high-stakes meeting held at Stanstead Airport, following a tumultuous 48-hour period marked by a confrontation between President Zelenskyy and former U.S. President Donald Trump.

2. The High-Stakes Meeting at Stanstead Airport

Yalda Hakim begins by setting the scene of her unique position at Stanstead Airport, where she and a select group of British journalists engaged in an in-depth, hour-long discussion with President Zelenskyy. The primary focus was the intense altercation that occurred at the Oval Office, capturing global attention and raising critical questions about Ukraine’s relationship with the United States.

3. Language as a Strategic Choice

A significant highlight of the conversation was President Zelenskyy’s insistence on speaking Ukrainian during the interview, a deliberate choice to prevent miscommunication that occurred during his previous English-language confrontation with Trump.

Yalda Hakim [00:43]: "He made it very clear he was going to speak in Ukrainian."

4. Lack of Direct Communication from the U.S. Administration

Zelenskyy expressed concern over the absence of direct communication from the U.S. administration regarding the Oval Office incident. Despite numerous statements from U.S. officials, including the Secretary of State and the National Security Advisor, Zelenskyy noted a troubling lack of personal outreach at his level.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy [02:44]: "There is communication. Not on my level."

Yalda emphasizes the critical nature of this silence, especially given Ukraine's dependence on U.S. and European support amidst ongoing conflict.

5. Unwavering Stance on Territorial Integrity

President Zelenskyy articulated a firm position against any compromises concerning Ukrainian territories. When questioned about the potential return of lands seized by Russia, he unequivocally stated that Ukraine would not concede its territories.

Yalda Hakim [04:25]: "They need to give it back. And that was not something that he was willing to budge on or compromise."

This stance sends a clear message to both Russian forces and international allies about Ukraine's determination to reclaim areas such as Crimea.

6. No Room for a Ceasefire Without Lasting Peace

Zelenskyy was resolute in his rejection of a ceasefire, insisting that any temporary halt to hostilities must be accompanied by lasting peace and security guarantees. This position aligns with that of European leaders who advocate for a comprehensive resolution rather than a temporary pause in conflict.

Yalda Hakim [05:57]: "...there would be a failure if, for example, Ukraine is forced to cease fire without any serious security guarantees."

7. Resilience Amidst Adversity: Zelenskyy's Hope and Determination

Despite the severe challenges, President Zelenskyy exudes hope and determination. Yalda notes his unwavering confidence in Ukraine’s ability to continue fighting for sovereignty and peace.

Yalda Hakim [06:25]: "There is a resolve there. There is a belief that he and his country are going to continue to fight on."

8. Response to Calls for Resignation and Democratic Integrity

Addressing rumors and external pressures for his resignation, Zelenskyy criticized the involvement of foreign citizens in Ukraine's democratic processes. He emphasized the importance of internal consensus and democratic legitimacy.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy [07:50]: "...it seems to me a bit undemocratic and unconstructive."

Yalda recounts Zelenskyy's candid remarks about the challenges of stepping down without fair electoral processes, highlighting his commitment to democratic principles.

9. Future Prospects: Negotiations and NATO Membership

Looking ahead, Zelenskyy expressed his willingness to engage in negotiations that would lead to Ukraine’s NATO membership, framing it as the fulfillment of his mission. He remains open to peaceful agreements that ensure security and sovereignty.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy [07:50]: "I am exchanging for NATO membership and then it means that I fulfilled my mission."

Yalda interprets this as a strategic move to secure long-term peace and international support for Ukraine.

10. Conclusion: Moving Forward with Determination

Yalda concludes the episode by reflecting on Zelenskyy's determined demeanor and his steadfast commitment to Ukraine’s future. She underscores the ongoing efforts of European allies to mediate between Ukraine and the United States, aiming to facilitate a sustainable resolution.

Despite the absence of Richard Engel, who is currently traveling in Ukraine, Yalda assures listeners of upcoming episodes featuring notable guests like Matt Pottinger, offering continued in-depth analysis of global events.

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Key Takeaways:

• President Zelenskyy's Firm Stance: No compromise on Ukrainian territories and rejection of a ceasefire without lasting peace.
• Communication Gaps: Concerns over the lack of direct dialogue from the U.S. administration.
• Democratic Integrity: Critique of foreign interference in Ukraine’s political processes.
• Future Aspirations: Focus on NATO membership and a sustainable peace agreement.
• Resilience and Hope: Zelenskyy’s unwavering determination to lead Ukraine through conflict.

This episode offers a profound insight into the current state of Ukraine's leadership amidst international tensions, showcasing President Zelenskyy's strategic decisions and unwavering resolve in navigating complex geopolitical landscapes.

Transcript

[James Matthews]

Donald Trump is heading back to the White House. Together, we can truly make America great again. We are in for an unpredictable but.

[Yalda Hakim]

Fascinating four years, and we're going to.

[James Matthews]

Be following every twist and turn for the first 100 days. We'll be bringing you the latest updates and analysis first thing every morning. So join me, James Matthews, me, Martha Calnick, and me, Mark Stone for Trump 100 every weekday at 6:00am, wherever you get your podcast.

[Yalda Hakim]

Hello, and welcome to this special edition of the World with me, Yalda Hakim. And I'm currently at Stanstead Airport. And you're probably wondering why I'm here and why Richard isn't here, but we're putting out this extra special edition of this podcast for you because we've just been in this extraordinary room at this airport where I've just spent some time with President Zelensky. And of course, President Zelensky has had a very difficult 48 hours. He had that blowup that the world saw on Friday night, a confrontation with Donald Trump. But I've just had the opportunity to sit down with President Zelensky, and a small select group of British journalists were in the room. I sat right beside the president after what's been quite a difficult period for him. And we all had the chance to sit down for more than an hour and talk to him, talk to him frankly about the incident, what took place at the Oval Office and whether he thinks he can move forward. I had the opportunity to ask him a couple of questions, and like I said, it went for over an hour. One of the most significant things that we saw speaking to Volodymyr Zelensky was that he made it very clear he was going to speak in Ukrainian. We had a translator on hand. There were calls in the room for him to speak in English, but he was not going to make the mistake that he made on Friday by speaking in English and allowing for something to get lost in translation. Yalda Hakim from Sky News, has there been any communication with the administration since the Oval Office meeting? Have they reached out to you?

[Volodymyr Zelensky]

There is communication. Not on my level.

[Yalda Hakim]

For me, it was incredibly significant that Volodymyr Zelenskyy was saying that at his level there had been no contact. So for the last couple of days, we've heard the US Secretary of State speak about the incident, we've heard the national security advisor speak about the incident, we've seen statements come out from Donald Trump, and yet no one from the administration has spoken directly to their partner, to the Ukrainian leader who is relying on U.S. assistance without U.S. assistance, it could be curtains down for Ukraine. So he is aware very much of how significant this support is. He was accused of not being thankful. And yet in the last 48 hours, he says at his level, there has been no contact. This is a nation at war dependent on US And European support. One of the things that was clear from our discussions with Volodymyr Zelenskyy was he was a bit confused about where his relationship now stands with Donald Trump. He wasn't sure exactly where things were heading, but he was certain about the motivations of Vladimir Putin and where that was likely to go. Let's just have a listen.

[Donald Trump]

The issue is of the Russian world. It's the Russian philosophy, and it's the spread of their narratives and their presence across the territories where Soviet Union was present before. So for them, they've built this internal right, the internal entitlement to this. It's their view. So they don't need a strong Ukraine.

[Yalda Hakim]

The other thing that Volodymyr Zelenskyy was defiant about and certain about was that there would be no compromises as far as his. His territory was concerned. He said that they would not be giving up a patch of Ukrainian land. There was journalists in the room who asked whether Ukraine would give back land that they had taken from the Russians. And he said, look, what doesn't belong to you needs to be given back. And that, to me, was a signal that he continues to send to the Russians, to the Europeans, to the Americans. The land that the Russians have taken in the last three years, frankly, going back to Crimea, does not belong to. To the Russians, and they need to give it back. And that was not something that he was willing to budge on or compromise. There was also many questions asked about a chance of a ceasefire. He was, again, very firm. No chance of a ceasefire. He wants a lasting peace. This is something that we have heard from European leaders as well. They continue to reiterate this. This was something that Volodymyr Zelenskyy was very firm about. Have a listen.

[Donald Trump]

President Trump wants to end the war, and together with Europe and with us, they can force Putin to end the war. And I said that for everyone, it would be a failure if, for example, Ukraine is forced to cease fire without any serious security guarantees. And you can imagine that a week later, the Russians will again shoot at us and. And we will shoot back.

[Yalda Hakim]

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to my surprise, seemed hopeful. Defiant, but hopeful. There is a resolve there. There is a belief that he and his country are going to Continue to fight on. And so regardless of what happened at the Oval Office on Friday, the pressure that he feels, I turned to him and I looked at him at one point, at the very end, and I said, you have had a very difficult couple of days. And he said, it's actually been a very difficult couple of weeks. I said, actually, let me rephrase that. You've had a difficult three years. And he said, yeah, absolutely, it's been incredibly hard. This is a country, a people that have continued to fight for their nation. And what was clear to me from Volodymyr Zelensky is they are not going to give up on their country. I was lucky enough to ask him the very last question. I was sitting right beside him. He didn't look particularly stressed to me. He, he, he looked determined. And I asked him, what about his future? There are calls at the moment for him to, to resign and step down. How was he thinking about that? How is he thinking about elections? Let's just have a listen to how he responded to that.

[Volodymyr Zelensky]

As regards resignation. My resignation, if, if I am to be changed and I'll hear, how can I put it, with what's happening with the, with the support to change me, it will not be easy because it is not enough to simply hold elections. You would need to prevent me from participating in the elections and it will be a bit more difficult, so they will have to negotiate with me. And I said that I am exchanging for NATO membership and then it means that I fulfilled my mission. Although honestly, it looks like the people, and I'll not be calling their posts, naming their posts, but the citizens of other countries are telling Ukrainians which president they should have, especially if these people occupy official posts. It seems to me a bit undemocratic and unconstructive.

[Yalda Hakim]

He had an almost cheeky grin on his face when he looked at me and he said, there are people, you know, I find it quite undemocratic that citizens of other countries are interfering and asking for me to step down. Sure, I'm willing to step down, but in exchange for NATO, and in terms of an election, well, you know, they're going to have to ask me not to stand. If there is going to be an election, it is clear that Volodymyr Zelenskyy is going to run again as the president. He made that very clear tonight that this is not a man who's just going to walk away from all of this. I think despite everything that has happened, I don't think it is irreversible. Regardless of what the Trump administration is saying, regardless of what Donald Trump is saying, they haven't closed the door. They want this mineral steel. President Trump wants a Nobel Peace Prize. And Volodymy Zelensky is saying, this isn't about me. I am here to represent my country, to lead my country, but I will do what it takes to, to reach some kind of peaceful agreement, a ceasefire that will not break down. He was very clear about that. The reason he doesn't want just a ceasefire is he's seen it fall to the wayside in the past and collapse. So he doesn't want to see just a ceasefire. I believe that the door hasn't closed and that Europeans will work incredibly hard to try and build a bridge between the Ukrainians and the Americans to reach some kind of agreement. Of course, this isn't normally how we do it and we would have loved to have Richard here offering his analysis. And he's just come out of Ukraine, but he's currently traveling. So we really wanted to give you this special edition of the podcast after this very unique experience that I had sitting down with Volodymyr Zelenskyy. And of course, don't forget to follow us wherever you get your podcasts, whether that's Apple or Spotify, and write to us. It's at the usual place, theworldsky.uk We've got very special guest over the next few days joining us, Matt Pottinger. He was part of Trump One. He was part of the National Security Council. He's also on an Iran hit list. We'll be talking to Matt Pottinger, a China hawk as well, about all of these issues. So do join us again and thank you so much as always for listening.

[James Matthews]

Donald Trump is heading back to the White House. Together we can truly make America great again.

[Yalda Hakim]

We are in for an unpredictable but fascinating four years and we're going to.

[James Matthews]

Be following every twist and turn for the first 100 days. We'll be bringing you the latest updates and analysis first thing every morning. So join me, James Matthews, me, Martha Kalnick and me, Mark Stone for Trump 100 every weekday at 6am wherever you get your podcast.