For the first time since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin was questioned by an American interviewer. The Kremlin boss told right-wing talk show host Tucker Carlson, among others, that the Russian invasion of the NATO states of Poland and Latvia was in fact “completely out of the question” – unless “if Poland attacks Russia,” he added.
The 127-minute interview was recorded on Tuesday and published on prime time in the US on Thursday evening (in our case, Friday evening). Carlson, a television personality known for spreading false news and conspiracy theories at his former employer Fox News, did not question Putin’s long-winded comments. Critics had already identified this prior to the conversation as the reason why the Kremlin chief might have granted the American an interview.
Putin declares he has “no interest” in further invasions
As expected, Putin dominated the conversation, while Carlson refrained from describing Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine as such or talking about an invasion. Putin, in turn, explained that Russia had no interest at all in Poland, Latvia or other countries, and that fears of a Russian attack were therefore misplaced. “Why would we do that? We are simply not interested.” It goes against common sense to get involved in “some global war.” Putin accused NATO countries of intimidating their own people by suggesting an “imaginary Russian threat.”
Putin: Agreement with Ukraine ‘sooner or later’
Regarding the war in Ukraine, Putin said towards the end of the interview that they were ready for dialogue – the time for talks had come because the West had to recognize that the conflict could not be won militarily. “Sooner or later this will end in an agreement,” Putin said. “Once this realization dawns, they (the West) will have to think about what to do next.”
Putin talks about alleged historical territorial claims
The interview, recorded in Moscow, appeared on Carlson’s website and on platform X, formerly Twitter. In it, Putin began making lengthy statements about Russia’s history, going all the way back to the 13th century, and handed Carlson a folder of documents “so you don’t think I’m missing anything.” During the interview, he again justified Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with alleged historical territorial claims and sharply criticized NATO and the US. Carlson largely let the Kremlin chief speak and rarely intervened, but at times built rhetorical platforms for Putin. At one point he interrupted the Russian president’s historical talk: “Can you tell us what time? I lose sight of where we are in history.”
Putin discusses prisoner exchange with Carlson
Ultimately, he spoke directly to Putin about American journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was in custody in Russia, and asked if there was any chance of his release. Putin said he was ready to talk and hinted at the possibility of a prisoner swap. “There is no point in keeping him captive in Russia,” the Kremlin chief said. The US needs to think about how it can contribute to a solution. Further statements from Putin could be interpreted as a release of the Tiergarten murderer Vadim K., who was convicted in December 2021 and sentenced to life imprisonment in Germany.
In December, the White House announced that Moscow had rejected an offer from Washington to release the journalist who worked for the Wall Street Journal. Gershkovich was arrested at the end of March 2023 during a reporting trip in Yekaterinburg in the Urals. The Russian prosecutor’s office accuses him of espionage. The American with Russian roots and the newspaper reject the accusations, as does the American government.
Carlson had been touting the pre-recorded interview for days as a major media event. The conversation with the 54-year-old talk show host may have served as a welcome platform for the internationally criticized Kremlin chief ahead of Russia’s March 17 presidential election, as Russian political scientist Tatyana Stanovaya noted. Putin used Carlson for his own purposes to gain access to the American public. The supporters of American Republican Donald Trump, who wants to return to the White House, are less critical of Putin than many other compatriots.
Former Fox News host Carlson reaches an audience of millions through social networks. Last year he was fired from the ultra-conservative American broadcaster, without a reason given for his dismissal. For years he presented a well-attended evening show there. Carlson used this to fuel false accusations against the Democratic Party and against minorities. Shortly after leaving Fox News, he started his own show on X.
John Kirby, communications director for the U.S. National Security Council, noted that nothing said in the interview should be construed as such. “Remember that you are listening to Vladimir Putin,” he said in Washington on Thursday.
Carlson has now left Moscow. The news website Semafor reported that he also met with Edward Snowden before his departure. The American whistleblower, who disclosed the extent of the United States’ global surveillance and espionage practices in 2013, has been living in exile in Russia for about a decade. Further details about the alleged meeting were initially not known.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
