Geurasia

Vladimir Putin in Tucker Carlson interview: Russia has no interest in wider war

Photo: AFP/Gavriil Grigorov

Eurasia 09/02/2024 15:58

Amidst high international expectations, Tucker Carlson's interview with Vladimir Putin has been published. It marks the first time since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine that the Russian president has spoken to a US journalist. He said Moscow cannot be defeated strategically, despite US, European and NATO help to Ukraine, but Russia has no interest in a wider war.

Russia will fight for its interests to the end but has no interest in expanding its war in Ukraine to other countries such as Poland and Latvia, said Russian President Vladimir Putin in an interview with former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson published on Thursday.

In his first interview with an American journalist since before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago, Putin said Western leaders had come to realise it was impossible inflict a strategic defeat on Russia and were wondering what to do next, South China Morning Post reported. “We are ready for this dialogue,” he said.

Asked if he could imagine a scenario in which he would send Russian troops to Poland, a Nato member, Putin replied: “Only in one case, if Poland attacks Russia. Why? Because we have no interest in Poland, Latvia or anywhere else. Why would we do that? We simply don’t have any interest.”

AFP/Gavriil Grigorov

Putin devoted a substantial part of the interview to complaining that Ukraine had been on the verge of agreeing a deal to end hostilities at talks in Istanbul in April 2022, but backed away, he said, once Russian troops withdrew from near Kyiv.

“Well now let them think how to reverse the situation,” he said. “We’re not against it. It would be funny if it were not so sad that. This endless mobilisation in Ukraine, the hysteria, the domestic problems, sooner or later it will result in an agreement.”

The Russian leader said the US had pressing domestic issues to worry about. “Wouldn’t it be better to negotiate with Russia? Make an agreement. Already understanding the situation that is developing today, realising that Russia will fight for its interests to the end,” Putin said.

Washington, which has sent Ukraine more than US$110 billion in aid since Russia invaded in February 2022, has made clear it has no interest in talking on Putin’s terms.

On the prospect of peace, the Russian president stated that if the West truly desires an end to the fighting, it must cease supplying arms. "It would be over in a few weeks. That's it," Putin added.

#Vladimir Putin #Tucker Carlson

Vladimir Putin in Tucker Carlson interview: Russia has no interest in wider war

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