Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a special talk with Tucker Carlson, tagged Ukraine as “not genuine” and held the West responsible for the war’s persistence.
This chat, Putin’s first with a Western reporter since the Ukraine conflict began, aired Thursday night on X and Carlson’s site.
Carlson, previously with Fox News and now with a vast following online, led the discussion.
Putin revisited his initial claims about Russia-Ukraine ties, stating Ukraine’s identity and unity were artificially created by historical political decisions.
He firmly said, “Ukraine’s statehood is a construct of Stalin’s making.”
He pinpointed the 2014 political upheaval in Ukraine and the unfulfilled Minsk Agreements as invasion reasons.
Putin shared a past exchange with Bill Clinton about Russia joining NATO, which ended in refusal, reinforcing his view of the West’s unwelcome stance towards Russia.
He suggested the CIA seeks to undermine him, dismissing the notion that U.S. leadership changes could influence the war’s direction.
Instead, Putin emphasized the prevailing attitudes of American elites.
Reflecting on past U.S. presidencies, he noted good relations with Bush and Trump, underscoring that leadership traits do not shape U.S. policy trends.
Putin criticized Joe Biden for supporting Ukraine, hinting at major mistakes. He implicated the U.S. in the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage without proof.
Fueling the Ukraine conflict
The Russian leader accused the West of fueling the Ukraine conflict, ready to talk but labeling Ukraine as America’s puppet.
He denied ambitions to invade nearby nations, acknowledging unfinished objectives in Ukraine.
On Evan Gershkovich’s detention in Russia, Putin indicated talks for a swap are ongoing.
The interview’s announcement sparked debate, with Carlson claiming a lack of Western journalistic engagement with Putin, a claim the Kremlin disputed.
Carlson positioned the interview as a bid to enlighten Americans about the war, focusing on U.S. interests and freedom.