Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sits down with Steven Bartlett on The Diary of a CEO. He describes not sleeping because he texts air defense crews nightly, and says awarding Hero of Ukraine to bereaved parents is the hardest moment. He traces his path from a Soviet-era academic family and comedy writing to the 'Servant of the People' role and the presidency, denying it was a calculated plan.
He argues the war began in 2014 in Crimea and that Putin, a Soviet-minded ex-KGB officer, wants to restore the empire with Ukraine at its core. He calls Biden's refusal of preemptive sanctions a mistake. On invasion day he told Biden he needed ammunition, not a ride. Russia sent about 200,000 troops and lost around Kyiv for lack of manpower; Ukraine's army grew to 800,000. After Bucha, he calls a ceasefire a 'huge compromise.' Russia holds 18-19% of Ukraine. He rejects Trump's diesel-price claim, saying Putin refused an energy ceasefire.