Tucker Carlson is the first US interviewer since the start of the Ukraine war to be granted an interview with Vladimir Putin – and avoids critical questions.
Washington, DC/Moscow – Russian President Vladimir Putin was interviewed in detail by a US interviewer for the first time since the start of the Ukraine war. In an interview with the right-wing talk show host Tucker Carlson, the Kremlin boss said, among other things, that a Russian invasion of the NATO states Poland and Latvia was basically “completely out of the question” – with one exception. Asked whether he could imagine a scenario in which he would send Russian troops to Poland, Putin replied: “Only in one case: if Poland attacks Russia.”
The 127-minute long interview was recorded on Tuesday (February 6th) and released on Thursday evening (February 8th) during prime time in the USA. Carlson, a television personality known for spreading false reports and conspiracy theories at his former employer Fox News, did not question Putin's long-winded remarks. Critics had already identified this in advance of the conversation as the reason why the President might have granted the American an interview.
As expected, Putin dominated the conversation, while Carlson refrained from describing the war as such or talking about an invasion. Putin, in turn, explained that Russia had no interest at all in Poland, Latvia or other countries, so fears of a Russian attack were misplaced. “Why should we do that? We are simply not interested.” It goes against common sense to get involved in “some kind of global war.” Putin accused the NATO states of intimidating their own people with the illusion of an “imaginary Russian threat”.
Putin talks to Carlson about Russia's history: debauchery dating back to the 13th century
With regard to 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 has set in, they (the West) will have to think about what to do next.” First, however, the Russian president gave a historical excursus.
In the interview published on Carlson's website and on During the interview, he again justified the Russian invasion of Ukraine with alleged historical territorial claims and sharply criticized NATO and the USA. Carlson largely let the Kremlin chief finish speaking and rarely intervened, but sometimes also built rhetorical platforms for Putin. At one point he interrupted the Russian president's historical ramblings: “Can you tell us in what time? I’m losing track of where we are in history.”
Putin “ready to talk” in the case of US journalist Gershkovich
In the end, he spoke directly to Putin about the US journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was in custody in Russia, and asked whether there was a chance of his release. Putin said he was willing to talk and hinted at the possibility of a prisoner exchange. “It makes no sense to keep him in prison in Russia,” said the ruler. Rather, the US should think about how it could contribute to a solution. “We are ready to talk.”
Further statements by Putin could be interpreted as meaning 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 received an offer from Washington to release him Wall Street Journal working journalists rejected. Gershkovich was arrested at the end of March 2023 on 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 allegations, as does the US government.
Reaction to Tucker Carlson Interview: “Remember, You’re Listening to Putin”
Tucker Carlson had touted the pre-recorded interview as a major media event for days. The conversation with the 54-year-old talk show host may have served as a welcome platform for the internationally criticized Kremlin boss before the presidential election on March 17 in Russia, as Russian political scientist Tatjana Stanovaya noted. Putin used Carlson for his own purposes to gain access to the US audience. The supporters of the US Republican Donald Trump, who wa
nts to move back into the White House, are less critical of Putin than many other compatriots.
Former Fox News host Carlson reaches an audience of millions via social networks. Last year he was fired from the ultra-conservative US broadcaster, without any reasons being given for his dismissal. He hosted a high-ratings evening show there for years. Carlson used this to incite false allegations against the Democratic Party and minorities. Shortly after leaving Fox News, he started his own show on X.
US National Security Council Communications Director John Kirby noted that nothing said in the interview should be taken at face value. “Remember, you are listening to Vladimir Putin,” he said in Washington. (nak/dpa)
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