“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 …

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

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)

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.

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