MOSCOW, Russia – Russian President Vladimir Putin recently used an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson to urge Washington to recognize Moscow’s interests and persuade Ukraine to sit down for talks. The interview, which was released on Thursday, primarily focused on the ongoing situation in Ukraine, where the war is approaching its two-year mark. During the interview, Putin reiterated his claim that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was necessary to protect Russian speakers in the country and prevent Ukraine from posing a threat to Russia by joining NATO.
Putin also pointed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s refusal to conduct talks with the Kremlin and argued that it is up to Washington to halt the supply of weapons to Ukraine and convince Kyiv to engage in negotiations. He warned that the West will never succeed in inflicting a “strategic defeat” on Russia in Ukraine and rejected allegations that Russia was harboring plans to attack Poland or other NATO countries.
This interview marked Putin’s first engagement with a Western media figure since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago, reflecting his recent limited contact with international media. However, White House national security spokesman John Kirby tried to minimize the impact of Carlson’s interview by cautioning against taking Putin’s statements at face value.
During the interview with Carlson, Putin also hinted at the potential negotiation of a prisoner exchange that would free Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been detained on espionage charges in Russia. In response to a question about releasing Gershkovich, Putin stated that Moscow is open to talks but reiterated the espionage charges against the reporter.
The Wall Street Journal reaffirmed in a statement that Gershkovich “is a journalist, and journalism is not a crime,” indicating that they hope Russia’s desire for a deal will lead to his rapid release and return to his family and their newsroom. The interview shed light on Putin’s stance on various international issues, while also reflecting the ongoing tensions between Russia, Ukraine, and the West.