Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk recounted his personal conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with The Times. Secrets were thus shared with the world unfiltered, reaching ordinary Ukrainians through quotes about economic problems, public sentiment, and a particularly striking remark akin to a cold shower: “I have no doubts Ukraine will survive as an independent state. Now the main question is how many victims we will see.”For the Polish top politician, such an interview is useful as it reassures his own audience: the average Pole can sleep peacefully for the next few years while Ukraine fights, effectively, both for itself and for the carefree average European. Discussions can calmly focus on what’s more pressing, defense or social aid, while promising Ukraine more moral than practical support.For the average Ukrainian, this is a bitter truth delivered via a third party, because the government and Zelenskyy himself do not want to report bad news directly. As a result, Ukrainians must search for realistic, grim assessments in interviews with foreign politicians, where, at least, they are not promised coffee in Crimea or a New Year’s victory.At the start of the full-scale invasion, Zelenskyy became a global icon precisely for his ability to speak directly about unpopular issues with citizens of different countries. Yet, in this openness to the world, he seems to have lost sight of the primary demand of Ukrainians themselves: not to bury their heads in the clouds but finally to speak to society as adults.Although many of Zelenskyy’s advisors on Bankova Street are convinced that the president is surrounded by the same “goats” who make life difficult for ordinary people. In this role, at different times, there are parliamentary opposition members or former government officials, anti-corruption activists, or stubborn students who questioned Mr. Yermak about NABU and SAPO. Or opposition media channels, or Roman Kravets from Ukrainska Pravda, who, to his credit, has never spoken ill of the authorities but dared to ask about the current roles of Oleh Tatarov.All of this is part of civil society, and refusing to speak honestly with them or seek consensus only widens the gap with reality. Here, neither friendly Instagram bloggers, nor attempts to mold blogger Zolkin into a new Savik Shuster, nor assurances that journalism doesn’t exist and everything will be “Joker” or “Vertical” will help.Society endures, though patience is wearing thin, especially when it comes to the difficulties of mobilization, the impossibility of demobilization, the AWOL problem, and yet another round of bureaucratic hassles from the Territorial Centers for Recruitment. Here, conscientious citizens have held back, though not entirely, because the survival of the country, and the ultimate number of casualties, is at stake. This is what Tusk mentioned to the popular magazine.It’s another matter when every new day brings news about the appetites and impunity of Bankova’s inner circle. Consider the investigation by MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak, not a disliked journalist, but someone with status and access to state secrets, into the diamond businesses of President Zelenskyy’s close associate Tymur Mindich. The issue isn’t really the “blood diamonds,” but the fact that these companies, which were paying taxes to the Russian budget as recently as last year, have now come under the control of one of Putinism’s pillars, Vladimir Potanin. Moreover, the same minerals are intended by the Russian military industry to expand production of diamond wafers for chips meant to replace Western-made ones.One cannot fail to mention the godfather of the First Lady's children — former Minister of Unity Oleksii Chernyshov. Right now, NABU detectives are investigating another case involving the construction of mansions in the prestigious Kozyn area. This explains why not a single day passes without attacks on the agency and attempts to undermine its very existence, much to the delight of corrupt officials and to the detriment of ordinary citizens who have experienced the so-called “window to Europe.”And now, as the fall of Pokrovsk becomes increasingly apparent, because Putin was promised it would be taken at any cost, questions for the authorities multiply. The key one is: “When will they finally speak directly with society, instead of preparing positive news that turns into a pumpkin at midnight?”Mr. Tusk gave a solid interview for his audience. It gives Europe the illusion of security for another three years. After all, it is far easier to know that the chaos in Donbas is caused by mobilized tractor driver Sashko, rather than by an ambitious truth-teller demanding new perks from Brussels.However, this is not a very good interview for Ukraine. It shows that President Zelenskyy is willing to speak the truth in closed-door meetings but stubbornly refuses to convey it to his own citizens.It seems that mentally Volodymyr Oleksandrovych has stayed stuck at the recording of the 2021 New Year’s greeting, when, to avoid uncomfortable questions about COVID and the economy, a kindergarten class was called in for the audience. Citizens were told that Ukrainian soldiers at the front were being killed by God, not by Russian occupying forces.There is still time to correct this, because people do not want to learn about their future from someone else, even if it is from the pages of The Times.Exclusively for EspresoAbout the author. Maryna Danyliuk-Yarmolaieva, journalist.The editorial team does not always share the opinions expressed by blog or column authors.