- Putin said that the word “Ukrainian” did not refer to a separate national group, but only indicated that a person lived on the outskirts of “our state” – Russia.
- Talking about relations with Poland, he mentioned that if Russia is attacked, Russian forces can be sent to our country.
- He also rejected suggestions that Putin was pursuing a global conflict using nuclear weapons. “This is an exaggerated campaign intended to intimidate his own people,” he said.
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On Tuesday, February 6, Carlson shocked the world by announcing that he was in Moscow, and that one of the highlights of his stay would be a meeting with Vladimir Putin. At midnight Polish time on February 8-9, the conversation between the American journalist and the Russian dictator came to light. It lasted two hours.
Immediately after greeting the reporter, Putin took off his watch and placed it on the table. On that day Early on, a journalist asked Vladimir Putin if he really believed the United States could attack Russia. The politician said he never thought so and believed “this is a serious interview, not a talk show”.
Ukraine is an artificial country
Vladimir Putin then presented the historic ties between Russia and Ukraine. He emphasized that “Ukraine as a state has an artificial character” and is historically closely connected to Russia. He said that the word “Ukrainian” did not refer to a separate national group, but only indicated that a given person lived in the suburbs of our country (Russia – editor's note).
In his reflection, Bohten returned to the 17th century after Khmelnytsky's appeals that “Russia had to protect the Ukrainian lands from oppression”. He described Russia as the permanent “guardian of the Russian-speaking people” who now live in Ukraine.
The Russian president insisted that the current situation in Ukraine was determined by the controversial – in his opinion – elections in Ukraine and the subsequent protests on Maidan, which he described as a “pro-Western coup”. He alleged that US services played a key role in these raids and accused “the West of meddling in Ukrainian affairs.”
Putin attributed Ukraine's current situation to “the failure of the Minsk agreements and the reluctance of Ukrainian leaders to implement them.” He criticized the former leaders of Germany and France for “failing to fulfill their obligations under the treaties”. And Russia? Russia is frustrated by the “lack of dialogue and diplomatic resolution” of the conflict. Accusing Ukraine of not wanting a peaceful solution to the conflict, he repeatedly said the purpose of the special military operation was to “destroy Ukraine, which glorifies Nazi collaborators.”
Putin: I don't want to attack Poland
Speaking about Ukraine, Putin also mentioned its neighbors several times, including Poland. In his opinion, “Ukraine received territories previously belonging to Hungary and Poland.” However, he emphasized that “Russia has no claim against Poland or Latvia or any other country”. However, he left the door open to military intervention – Russian troops could be sent to Poland if Russia was attacked.
Relations with the West “did not keep its word”
Russia's relations with the United States were also discussed. Putin emphasized what he believed to be “the importance of honesty and mutual trust in diplomatic relations.” He recalled instances where “the heads of their agencies seemed to undermine the decisions of American presidents.” According to the Russian dictator, this demonstrates a “lack of coordination in decision-making processes”.
Putin suggested that while “the West is afraid of a strong Russia,” the West is more afraid of China's growing power. He emphasized that the Western countries did not adhere to the arrangements regarding the expansion of NATO to Eastern European countries and that it did not contribute to building mutual trust.
Putin also spoke about his current relationship with President Biden, criticizing US military support for Ukraine. “The cessation of arms supply is necessary for the sake of peace talks,” he stressed. He also said he did not remember the last time he spoke to the US president.
China has a long history of cooperation with Russia
According to Putin, “The world should unite, not divide.” He criticized the US for “using the dollar as a foreign policy tool”. He described it as a strategic mistake that undermined the American position. According to him, there is a “global loss of confidence in the dollar and the rise in popularity of alternative currencies such as the yuan and ruble”.
In his opinion, Russia and China have long-standing cooperation, and he described the attempt to destabilize the United States as “unnecessary.”
He also rejected suggestions that Putin was pursuing a global conflict using nuclear weapons. “This is an exaggerated campaign intended to intimidate his own people,” he said. He reiterated that Russia is a peaceful country that does not seek conflict.
Gershkovich? “We can talk about him.”
At the end of the conversation, Tucker recalled the American journalist Ivan Gershkovich. The 31-year-old American citizen from Russia was detained in Yekaterinburg in the Urals in late March 2023 and later arrested on espionage charges. Putin said he hoped “an agreement could be reached” in the Gershkovich case.
I want to tell you why Putin invaded Ukraine.
Tucker Carlson has been an outspoken defender of Putin since the start of the war. Just before Russia's invasion, he said that “hatred of Putin has become a central goal of American foreign policy” and called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator.” After the invasion began, he changed his tone slightly and admitted that Putin was responsible for the situation in Ukraine. However, he still opposed US support for Ukraine.
– Most Americans have no idea why Putin invaded Ukraine or what his goals are now. They never heard his voice. It was a mistake – he explained the reasons why he decided to talk to the owner of the Kremlin, responsible for the death of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians, and why the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him.
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