Russia’s “impossible” defeat in Ukraine, invasion of Poland… What to remember from Putin’s interview
The over two-hour long message to America and the West took the form of an often highly subjective history lesson. Vladimir Putin granted American conservative journalist Tucker Carlson a lengthy interview, which was conducted in Moscow on Tuesday and broadcast Thursday evening on tuckercarlson.com. On February 24, 2022, it was the first given by a Russian president to a Western journalist since the start of the war in Ukraine. Russian state media widely covered the presenter’s visit, especially at the airport and published photos of her at the famous Bolshoi Theater. Update on the key statements of the Russian President.
Defeat for Russia in Ukraine “Impossible”
“So far there’s been shouting about the (need) to strategically defeat Russia on the battlefield,” he told the former Fox host. News, in a large room where the two men sat facing each other in white. chairs
“But now they are realizing that it is difficult, if not impossible, to achieve. In my opinion, this is impossible by definition. It will never happen. I think even the people in power in the West now are aware of this,” added the all-powerful Russian president. “If this reality is well understood, they should think about what will happen next. We are ready for this dialogue,” he assured in Russian, his words dubbed into English.
During the meeting, Putin assured that Ukraine had come close to reaching a deal to end hostilities during Istanbul talks in April 2022, but that Kiev had backed down once Russian troops withdrew. was withdrawn near Kiev. At the start of its invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin envisioned taking the capital of Ukraine within days, and bringing the country, which it believed to be committed to the Russian cause, into the fold of the Russian Federation. Ukrainians have shown their determination to remain an autonomous country 30 years after leaving the Soviet bloc. But Putin continues to maintain the opposite: “This endless dynamic, frenzy, internal problems in Ukraine, sooner or later it will lead to an agreement,” he let it sink in.
No invasion of Poland or Latvia
The Russian president has said he rules out an invasion of Poland or Latvia. “Can you imagine a scenario in which you send Russian troops to Poland?”, asked Tucker Carlson, a close friend of former US President Donald Trump. “Only in one situation, if Poland attacks Russia,” Putin replied.
“We have no interest in Poland, Latvia or anywhere else. Why would we do this? We are simply not interested (…). There is no question of that,” he added, suggesting that rumors to the contrary are threats.
The case of American journalist Ivan Gershkovich
Vladimir Putin also assured that it is possible to reach an agreement for the release of American journalist Ivan Gershkovich, who has been detained in Russia for almost a year. Russian and American special services are discussing the Gershkovich case and have made progress, he defended. “I believe an agreement can be reached.” “There is no prohibition to resolve this issue. We are ready to resolve it but some conditions are being discussed through special service channels.
The Russian president suggested, without naming names, that Moscow wants Germany to free Vadim Krasikov, who was convicted of killing a Chechen dissident in Berlin in 2019. Russia and the United States have already agreed to a high-profile prisoner swap. In December 2022, Moscow replaced Brittney Griner, an American basketball star convicted of drug use in Russia, with arms dealer Viktor Bout.
American presidential election
The Russian president also assured that the election of a new American president, which is scheduled for November 5 and pits Republican Donald Trump against Democrat Joe Biden, will not change relations between the United States and Russia.
“You just asked me if anything would change if another leader came along. It is not a question of who is the leader of the personality of a certain person,” said the Russian leader.
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin praise each other. Trump bragged without elaborating that he could resolve the war in Ukraine in 24 hours if re-elected. President Biden has described his Russian counterpart as a war criminal, and has shown unwavering support for Kiev.
Carlson’s interview comes as US lawmakers debate whether to direct more money to Ukraine’s war effort. A procedural vote in the US Senate advanced a bill providing $61 billion in new funding for Ukraine, but it faces uncertainty in the Republican-dominated House of Representatives, where dozens of members, particularly those closely aligned with former President Donald Trump, voted against the aid. For Ukraine. Trump himself has called for de-escalation of the war, and Carlson is believed to have close ties to him.
