“Zelensky, Ukraine & Intelligence” – with Simon Shuster

Summary

Simon Shuster (X, Website) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukraine. Simon is a senior correspondent at TIME. 

What You’ll Learn

Intelligence

• Zelenskyy’s career pre-Presidency
• Reactions to the 2022 Russian invasion
• Ukrainian public opinion of Zelenskyy
• Zelenskyy’s relationship with Ukrainian intelligence 

Reflections

• Contagious courage 
• Leadership styles, techniques, and unique skills

And much, much more …

Episode Notes

This week, Andrew was joined by Simon Shuster, senior correspondent at Time Magazine. He covers international affairs and has reported specifically on Russia and Ukraine for almost two decades. Simon’s new book The Showman: Inside the Invasion That Shook the World and Made a Leader of Volodymyr Zelensky explores the leadership of President Volodymyr Zelensky during Ukraine’s War with Russia, with a focus on intelligence. 

Reporting directly from the President's inner circle, Simon provides a fascinating first-person perspective on the man who has led Ukraine through one of their most turbulent eras. Tune in to learn more about the comedian-turned-president and some behind-the-scenes accounts from the war in Ukraine.

And… 

Simon was born in Moscow and emigrated to the United States just two years before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Simon’s family settled in San Francisco, a city home to one of the largest Russian American communities in the country. Can you guess which state has the largest percentage of Russian Americans out of their total population? That’s right, North Dakota with 2.5%! 

Quotes of the Week

“In researching [Zelenskyy’s] transformations as a person from comedian to politician to wartime leader, I also thought a lot about what qualities have remained consistent in him. And one of them for sure is this kind of, “go get ‘em” confidence … He just has this abiding confidence in his own ability to think on his feet, to not lose his balance, to just go into a new and unfamiliar space or a set of challenges and wing it, so to say.” – Simon Schuster. 

Glossary

Resources 

SURFACE SKIM

*Spotlight Resource* 

• The Showman : Inside the Invasion That Shook the World and Made a Leader of Volodymyr Zelensky, Simon Shuster (William Morrow, 2024)

*SpyCasts*

• David Petraeus on Ukraine & Intelligence with the former CIA Director & 4* General (2023) 
• Spies: The Epic Intelligence War Between East vs. West with Calder Walton (2023)
• Ukraine & the Alliance with NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence David Cattler (2023)
• Ukraine & Intelligence: One Year On with Shane Harris (2023)

*Beginner Resources*

• What to know about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, I. Pereira & P. Reevell, ABC News (2022) [Short article]
• A Brief History of Modern Ukraine, BBC, YouTube (2022) [3 min. video]
• Ukraine conflict: Simple visual guide to the Russian invasion, BBC (2022) [Short article]

DEEPER DIVE

Books

• Our Enemies Will Vanish: The Russian Invasion and Ukraine's War of Independence, Y. Trofimov (Penguin Press, 2024) 
• Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine, D. Petraeus & A. Roberts (Harper, 2023) 
• The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine, S. Plokhy (Basic Books, 2021)

Articles

• War in Ukraine, Center for Preventative Action, Council on Foreign Relations (2024)
• Volodymyr Zelenskyy went from comedian to icon of democracy. This is how he did it, F. Langfitt, NPR (2023)
• Volodymyr Zelensky’s acting career prepared him for the world stage, L. Respers France, CNN (2022)
• 'Shame on you': How President Zelensky uses speeches to get what he needs, P. Adams, BBC (2022)
• How Zelensky Has Changed Ukraine, J. Pisano, Journal of Democracy (2022) 
• Ukraine’s Elections Mark a Historic Break With Russia and Its Soviet Past, S. Shuster, TIME (2014) 

Video

• Servant of the People (2015-2019)  
• Zelenskyy Hosting the Russian New Year’s Eve Special (2013)

Primary Sources 

• All Intelligence Agencies of Our Partners are Informed of the Current Threats and Prospects – Address by the President (2024)
• Freedom must always prevail when challenged – speech by the President of Ukraine at the National Defense University of the United States (2023)
• Address by the President: Ukrainians are a symbol of invincibility (2022)
• Address by the President to Ukrainians at the end of the first day of Russia's attacks (2022) 
• Constitution of Ukraine (1996)
• Act of Declaration of the Independence of Ukraine (1991)
• Act of Proclamation of Ukrainian Statehood (1941)
• Ukrainian Proclamation of Independence (1917)

*Wildcard Resource*

• As Simon mentioned in this episode, President Zelenskyy won the Ukrainian version of one of Erin’s favorite shows, Dancing With The Stars, in 2006. 
• Watch some of his winning dances with partner Olena Shoptenko here.