Volodymyr Zelenskyy discusses personal toll of war in interview

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has provided an intimate look into the psychological burden of the ongoing war during an interview on the podcast ‘The Diary of a CEO’ with Steven Bartlett. Zelenskyy revealed that he suffers from chronic insomnia, noting that he speaks with air defense officials every night to coordinate material and regional movements.

Reflecting on the emotional weight of his leadership, Zelenskyy described the discovery of Russian war crimes in Bucha as a moment that triggered feelings of ‘pure hate and the urge for revenge,’ though he emphasized the necessity of remaining functional as a head of state. He also spoke about the trauma of meeting parents of fallen soldiers and the constant uncertainty regarding the country's survival.

Regarding international relations, Zelenskyy addressed tensions with US President Donald Trump. He disputed claims that Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries are responsible for high US diesel prices, calling such assertions ‘completely wrong.’ Zelenskyy urged Trump to adopt a firmer rhetorical stance toward Vladimir Putin, suggesting that the US should apply pressure to Russia rather than Ukraine to bring them to the negotiating table.