“We can’t leave Volodymyr Zelensky” and “freedom lose”launches Monday, November 28 on France Interr U2 singer Bono as the war in Ukraine entered its tenth month last weekend. The leader of the rock band released his autobiographical book earlier this month Surrender (Fayard editions), in which he looks back on his meeting last spring with the Ukrainian president whom he compares to Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Winston Churchill. Bono recalls that Volodymyr Zelensky was “actor” before being at the head of a country at war and he judges this transformation “outstanding”.
Bono regrets the fact that “we are in a world where fascism is back in fashion” in some countries. “You can call it state capitalism in China, you can call it whatever you want in Russia, but it’s fascism”, he complains. The U2 singer considers that “freedom is the most intoxicating word we have in our lexicon. It should not be taken for granted”, he says. He also targets Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, whom he calls a “old white male”.
Bono compares Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill and Martin Luther King: “You can’t let him lose, you can’t let freedom lose.” pic.twitter.com/j4LvVziXKI
– France Inter (@franceinter) November 28, 2022
In his memoirs, the leader of the rock band also describes his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. On France Inter, he describes him as a head of state who “solve problems” and “roll up the sleeves”. He greets “his verbal alacrity, his intellectual acuity, that doesn’t happen all the time”. Bono ensures that “Not all world leaders are so smart. They can talk, they can be warm or charismatic, but you need a certain intellectual level”he says.
Singer Bono praises the “intellectual and verbal acuity” of President Emmanuel Macron, whom he has met on several occasions. Behind the scenes, “I see how he solves problems, how he rolls up his sleeves”. pic.twitter.com/AXPZp4ehGq
– France Inter (@franceinter) November 28, 2022