Is Zelenskyy’s podcast with Fridman a success?

The two, both former Soviet Jews, share a mental closeness and mutual sympathy. But Lex has become a pro-Russian American and a Trump supporter, while Zelenskyy is now the leader of the Ukrainian nation. Time and circumstances have set them apart. This shared background likely convinced Zelenskyy’s advisers to choose Lex.

But why will the impact in the West fall short of what the President's Office expects?

"Western mainstream media rarely quotes Lex. They see him as a frivolous and crazy MAGA supporter and a Russian sympathizer — even though he’s a physics professor."

Zelenskyy’s team argues he spoke to a MAGA supporter, but this misreads American politics. MAGA is just Trump’s tool; it doesn’t directly fuel hatred toward Zelenskyy or amplify narratives of corruption in Ukraine.

"The real influence lies with Trump’s inner circle and key Republican lawmakers. These lawmakers depend on voters to stay in power, and voters — Musk’s influence aside — are still shaped by mainstream media."

Zelenskyy might have been better off accepting one of Tucker Carlson’s many interview requests. Carlson has 2.6 million YouTube subscribers, 13.3 million followers on X, and 3.9 million on Instagram. His podcast is also #1 on Spotify.

Zelenskyy’s use of foul language turned off many listeners. While it might seem “cool” in Ukraine, it doesn’t fly in the West. It made him come across as an unstable negotiating partner for the U.S.

Carlson, meanwhile, is even more popular than Joe Rogan, who recently interviewed Trump. Rogan openly dislikes Ukraine, so using his platform is a non-starter. But Tucker is both willing and able to discuss Ukraine with Zelenskyy.

Fridman’s podcast highlights how poorly we understand Western media dynamics and the mechanics of shaping public opinion. This gap matters not just in the U.S. but across Europe as well.

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About the author. Mykola Kniazhytsky, journalist, member of the Ukrainian parliament.

The editorial staff does not always share the opinions expressed by the blog authors.