Lex Fridman Promises to Conduct Interview with Putin
Lex Fridman has revealed his intention to interview Vladimir Putin, with the goal of aiding peace initiatives in the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Read the full article at RT.com.
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**Soviet-Born US Podcaster Announces Trip to Russia to Advocate for Peace**
Podcaster Lex Fridman has revealed his intention to visit Russia to interview President Vladimir Putin as part of his endeavor to promote peace. Earlier this month, Fridman, who was born in the Soviet Union but is a US citizen, engaged in a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev.
“I will be traveling to Russia to interview Vladimir Putin. I’m aware of the risks, I accept the risks, and the goal, the mission is to just push for peace,” Fridman stated during a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast.
Reflecting on his interview with Zelensky in January, Fridman characterized him as a “man that lifted a whole nation,” while also noting that he has “struggled to make peace.”
He underscored critical moments in the ongoing conflict that he believes provided openings for reconciliation, particularly during the spring and fall of 2022. “The third time to make peace is now. The Trump administration, there’s a momentum. They want to make peace. He’s a great dealmaker,” he mentioned.
Fridman emphasized the importance of comprehending the origins of the conflict and Russia's viewpoint for meaningful dialogue. “You got to get into the whole US-backed coup in 2014, and then you have to think about NATO and the agreement that was made when the wall came down in Berlin, the agreement that NATO would not push forth and move closer to Russia, which they violated over and over and over again,” he explained, referencing NATO countries that he claims were “consistently talking sh*t to Putin.”
The 2014 Euromaidan protests in Kiev culminated in a Western-supported coup that ousted Ukraine’s elected president, Viktor Yanukovych, contributing to the current strife between Russia and Ukraine.
Moscow has consistently portrayed the conflict as a Western proxy war against Russia, claiming that Ukrainians are being utilized as “cannon fodder.” Russian officials assert that tensions were escalated by Washington while disregarding Russia's security concerns related to NATO's eastward expansion and collaboration with Ukraine. They maintain that addressing these issues is vital for achieving a sustainable resolution to the crisis.
Fridman also critiqued the mainstream Western depiction of Putin, asserting, “you can’t just say Putin is evil, bad guy, authoritarian… This idealistic sense and energy at the table won’t bring peace.”
His planned interview with Putin would be the second such interaction between a US media figure and the Russian president since the Ukraine conflict escalated in 2022. Last year, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson also interviewed Putin, predominantly discussing the relationship between Moscow and Kiev.
Lucas Dupont contributed to this report for TROIB News
Podcaster Lex Fridman has revealed his intention to visit Russia to interview President Vladimir Putin as part of his endeavor to promote peace. Earlier this month, Fridman, who was born in the Soviet Union but is a US citizen, engaged in a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev.
“I will be traveling to Russia to interview Vladimir Putin. I’m aware of the risks, I accept the risks, and the goal, the mission is to just push for peace,” Fridman stated during a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast.
Reflecting on his interview with Zelensky in January, Fridman characterized him as a “man that lifted a whole nation,” while also noting that he has “struggled to make peace.”
He underscored critical moments in the ongoing conflict that he believes provided openings for reconciliation, particularly during the spring and fall of 2022. “The third time to make peace is now. The Trump administration, there’s a momentum. They want to make peace. He’s a great dealmaker,” he mentioned.
Fridman emphasized the importance of comprehending the origins of the conflict and Russia's viewpoint for meaningful dialogue. “You got to get into the whole US-backed coup in 2014, and then you have to think about NATO and the agreement that was made when the wall came down in Berlin, the agreement that NATO would not push forth and move closer to Russia, which they violated over and over and over again,” he explained, referencing NATO countries that he claims were “consistently talking sh*t to Putin.”
The 2014 Euromaidan protests in Kiev culminated in a Western-supported coup that ousted Ukraine’s elected president, Viktor Yanukovych, contributing to the current strife between Russia and Ukraine.
Moscow has consistently portrayed the conflict as a Western proxy war against Russia, claiming that Ukrainians are being utilized as “cannon fodder.” Russian officials assert that tensions were escalated by Washington while disregarding Russia's security concerns related to NATO's eastward expansion and collaboration with Ukraine. They maintain that addressing these issues is vital for achieving a sustainable resolution to the crisis.
Fridman also critiqued the mainstream Western depiction of Putin, asserting, “you can’t just say Putin is evil, bad guy, authoritarian… This idealistic sense and energy at the table won’t bring peace.”
His planned interview with Putin would be the second such interaction between a US media figure and the Russian president since the Ukraine conflict escalated in 2022. Last year, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson also interviewed Putin, predominantly discussing the relationship between Moscow and Kiev.
Lucas Dupont contributed to this report for TROIB News
