Vladimir Putin’s recent interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson has sparked both interest and controversy. It was Putin’s first interview with a U.S. journalist since the invasion of Ukraine, and while some expected hard-hitting questions, the interview was criticized for being less than challenging.
During the interview, Putin made a few key points that are worth noting. First and foremost, he stated that the war in Ukraine is far from over. He criticized the support given to Ukraine by the U.S. and European countries and suggested that the easiest way to stop the war would be for the west to stop supplying Ukraine with weapons. Putin claimed that his main aim in the war is “de-nazification,” although this claim seems questionable considering the popularity of Ukraine’s Jewish president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. When asked if he would be satisfied with the territory Russia has already seized, Putin simply returned to his point about de-nazification.
Another noteworthy aspect of the interview was the careful selection of the interviewer. It appeared that the Kremlin orchestrated the interview, with Carlson likely briefed on what questions Putin would or wouldn’t answer. Carlson, known as a Putin apologist, has questioned U.S. support for Ukraine, leading many journalists to criticize his selection for the interview. Anne Applebaum, an author and journalist for The Economist, referred to Carlson as a propagandist with a history of helping autocrats conceal corruption.
The interview also provided an opportunity for Putin to express his admiration for former President Donald Trump and his hope for a good relationship with him. He mentioned his personal relationship with Trump and also noted similar relations with former President George W. Bush. In contrast, Putin couldn’t remember the last time he spoke to President Joe Biden and questioned the need for communication with him.
One interesting moment in the interview came when Carlson asked about Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been held without trial on espionage charges in Russia. Putin claimed that Gershkovich had been caught with confidential information, but the idea of a prisoner exchange was raised. Putin mentioned an unnamed “person serving a sentence in an allied country of the U.S.,” which is believed to refer to Vadim Krasikov, who assassinated a Chechen insurgency leader in Berlin in 2019.
Lastly, Putin expressed his admiration for Tesla CEO Elon Musk. He mentioned reports of Musk implanting a chip in the human brain in the U.S., hinting at the idea of capitalist mind control. However, Putin also acknowledged that there is no stopping Musk and that he is a smart person who will do as he sees fit.
Overall, Putin’s interview with Carlson provided some insights into his views on various topics. However, the interview was criticized for its lack of challenging questions and the choice of interviewer. It remains to be seen how this interview will impact international relations and ongoing conflicts.
