American journalist at Kremlin boss: This is what Putin says in an interview with Tucker Carlson

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Vladimir Putin (71) gave an interview to the controversial American journalist Tucker Carlson (54). Carlson traveled to Russia for this and was received in Moscow by the Russian president. The former ratings king of Fox News is the first Western journalist to interview Putin since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Kremlin leader spoke with Tucker Carlson for more than two hours on various topics. Of course he talks about the war, about NATO, about the Nordstream pipelines and about Zelensky.

Tucker Carlson asks Putin what made him start the war. He replied that Euromaidan caused the “conflict” in 2014. The CIA was also involved. Putin cynically says: “Without the bloody developments in the Maidan, we wouldn’t have even thought about raising a finger.”

Putin claims he asked former US President Bill Clinton (77) whether it was possible for Russia to join NATO. He refused at the time. He said, “That’s impossible now.” When asked by Carlson whether Russia would have actually joined NATO afterwards, Putin replied: “If he had said yes, the process of rapprochement would have started. And maybe it would have happened.”

The Nordstream pipelines were blown up by the Americans. “The CIA has no alibi,” Putin says. But he wouldn’t go into details when Carlson asked him for proof of this.

Proximity to Donald Trump

On Tuesday, Carlson said in a video on X that he was in Moscow “to interview Russian President Vladimir Putin.” It is his job as a journalist to inform the public. Most American citizens don’t know what is going on in Russia and Ukraine. “But they should know, after all, they pay a lot of money for it.”

Carlson was Fox News’ most recognizable figurehead for years. With his controversial positions and closeness to then-president Donald Trump (77), he regularly caused a stir and a large following. Last April, Carlson was fired from Fox News. He has since published his interviews on X and on his own streaming platform, the Tucker Carlson Network. The videos are viewed millions of times.

Controversy over interview requests

The Kremlin confirmed the interview plans and said it had previously received questions from other Western media. Carlson had accused the Western media of never seeking an interview with Putin since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Numerous media professionals contradicted this.

CNN’s Christiane Amanpour said Carlson’s statement was absurd. “Does Tucker really think that we journalists haven’t tried to interview Putin every day since his invasion of Ukraine began?” They will continue to ask for an interview, “as we have done for years.” BBC correspondent Steve Rosenberg also said he had sent “several requests” but Putin always refused. (no/neo)

Source: Blick