The News Freedom
Chandigarh, February 9
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson, emphasized that if the US genuinely desires an end to hostilities, it must cease supplying weapons to Ukraine, asserting that cessation of such support would swiftly conclude the conflict. Putin conveyed a message to the US, asserting that communication between Russia and the US persists through various channels regarding conflict resolution.
The interaction between Tucker Carlson and Vladimir Putin garnered attention on Thursday night, as the polarizing, pro-Trump right-wing commentator engaged with the elusive Russian leader, as reported by The Guardian.
Putin’s message to the US, as relayed by The Guardian, underscores the Russian stance on conflict resolution, urging cessation of weapon supply to expedite peace efforts. The report notes that Putin’s last communication with US President Joe Biden occurred prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The extensive two-hour interview, filmed in Moscow, marked Putin’s first engagement with a Western media outlet since the onset of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022.
During the interview, Putin delved into Russian history, spanning from the ninth century reign of Oleg the Wise to critiques of Lenin’s foreign policy, according to The Guardian. Following a historical discourse, Putin transitioned to contemporary issues, accusing the US and other Western nations of prolonging the conflict in Ukraine. He lamented the breakdown of peace talks with Ukraine, attributing their failure to Ukrainian compliance with Western directives to continue fighting against Russia.
Putin singled out former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson for blame, alleging his interference in Ukrainian peace negotiations. Despite Johnson’s departure from UK politics in June 2023, Putin claimed that Johnson dissuaded Ukrainian President Zelenskiy from pursuing a peace deal early in the conflict, as per The Guardian’s report.
The Guardian’s coverage also highlights a pre-interview video released by Carlson, wherein he expressed a motivation to interview Putin due to perceived public ignorance regarding Putin’s motivations for invading Ukraine.