The key moments of Tucker Carlson’s interview with Vladimir Putin
Former Fox News personality Tucker Carlson sat down with Vladimir Putin for a two-hour interview. Here are some of the key moments from the “conversation”.
Tucker Carlson released his interview with Russian president Vladimir Putin on Thursday. The former Fox News personality published the sit-down on the website of his media startup called Tucker Carlson Network (TCN). In a video posted to state his reasons for the interview the conservative pundit said that he went to Moscow because “most Americans are not informed” and “have no real idea what’s happening” in the region.
He said that interviews with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have been “fawning pep sessions” to get Americans more deeply involved in the conflict. He claimed that western media outlets have been omitting the other side of the story in the Russia-Ukraine war, that of Putin. This view of Carlson, who repeatedly questions support for Ukraine and makes sympathetic comments about Putin, was lambasted by other journalists.
They pointed out that, despite numerous requests, the Kremlin has not granted them direct access to the Russian president but they have reported on Putin’s “frequent, widely covered speeches.” Carlson, whose commentary is often broadcast on Russian state TV for propaganda purposes, was allowed by the Kremlin to be the first Westerner to sit down with Putin for an interview since Russia invaded Ukraine two years ago.
The key moments of Tucker Carlson’s interview with Vladimir Putin
The two-hour softball “conversation” kicked of with a roughly 30-minute monologue by the Russian president where he gave a revisionist history of his nation going back to the eighth century. While Carlson thought “this was a filibustering technique and found it annoying,” he failed to fact-check Putin’s skewed history lesson.
The conservative provocateur steered away from any sensitive topics like repression of political opponents and free speech in Russia, which has forced many journalists to flee the country. Nor did he bring up war crime accusations against Russia and its troops that have been alleged to have occurred in Ukriane or the wartime toll on the Russian armed forces, estimated to be around 315,000 dead or wounded.
Elon Musk and human brain implant
The two men did talk about Elon Musk, with Putin saying there is “no stopping” him referring to reports that Musk has already implanted a chip in the brain of an individual. The Russian president said that Musk “will do as he sees fit.”
“Nevertheless, you need to find some common ground with him,” he added. “Search for ways to persuade him. I think he’s a smart person. I truly believe he is.”
Ukraine has been using the tech billionaire’s Starlink satellite system for communications on the battlefield and to carry out attacks on Russian forces with drones.
Open to releasing Evan Gershkovich
When asked about Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been detained on espionage charges for almost a year, “I do not rule out that… Gershkovich may return to his motherland,” Putin said. “At the end of the day it does no make any sense to keep him in prison in Russia.”
The Putin would like the United States to reciprocate the “good will” that Russia has shown. Holding US citizens has been used by Russia to retrieve their own operatives that are being held in the US.
CIA is to blame for Nord Stream sabotage
Carlson asked Putin “Who blew up Nord Stream?” referring to the Baltic Sea gas pipeline connecting Russia and Germany that was sabotaged in September 2022. Jokingly, he blamed Carlson but said that while he may have an alibi, “the CIA has no such alibi.” Putin failed to present any evidence to support his accusation, merely saying, “People always say in such cases, ‘look for someone who is interested.’”
US involvement in Ukraine: “Don’t you have anything better to do?”
When questioned about the concerns expressed by US lawmakers that without further funding for Ukraine, there is the possibility that US soldiers would end up on the frontline, Putin warned that sending regular troops to Ukraine “would certainly bring humanity to the brink of very serious conflict. This is obvious.”
“Don’t you have anything better to do?” asked the Russian president. He went on to list some issues facing the United States domestically like immigration and securing the southern border along with the national debt.
“Wouldn’t it be better to negotiate with Russia? Make an agreement already understanding the situation that is developing today?” he queried. Putin finished this thought by saying the “Russia will fight for its interest to the end.”