Russian President Vladimir Putin and Tucker Carlson made headlines on Thursday (February 8) as the Russian president granted an interview to an American journalist, the first in years.
When discussing the possibility of establishing peace in Ukraine, Putin told Carlson, “If you really want to stop fighting, you need to stop supplying weapons.”
The Russian president was alluding to the Western help being delivered to Kyiv. “It’ll be over within a few weeks. “That’s it,” he concluded.
Putin emphasized the goals of the “special military operation” in Ukraine, saying one of them was “de-Nazification,” which had yet to be completed.
In an unusual step, Putin went on to explain what he meant by “de-Nazification”.
“This means the prohibition of all kinds of neo-Nazi movements. We have to get rid of those who maintain this concept, support this practice, and try to preserve it,” the Russian president said.
The Russian president also maintained his plan to invade Ukraine in February 2022.
Putin stated that the West now understands that Russia will not be beaten, even if Ukraine receives help from the United States, the European Union, and NATO.
“Up until now, there has been the uproar and screaming about inflicting a strategic defeat to Russia on the battlefield. But now they realize that it is difficult to achieve, if possible, at all. In my opinion, it is impossible by definition,” Putin said.
Putin dismisses Nord Stream blast allegations and blames CIA
Responding to Carlson’s questioning about the attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea in September 2022, Putin denied any role in the incident.
“Who blew up Nord Stream?” quizzed Carlson. Responding to his question, Putin said, “You for sure.”
To which Carlson responded: “I was busy that day. I did not blow up Nord Stream.”
Putin then went on to claim, without providing any evidence, that only the United States was capable of, and had any interest in, carrying out that attack.
Notably, Washington has continuously denied any involvement in the strikes.
Putin says attacking Poland or Latvia is ‘out of the question’
Invading Poland or Latvia was “out of the question” according to Russian President Putin. “We simply don’t have any interest” in prolonging the Ukraine conflict, he said.
“Can you imagine a scenario where you send Russian troops to Poland?” asked Carlson.
“Only in one case, if Poland attacks Russia,” said Putin, adding: “We have no interest in Poland, Latvia or anywhere else. Why would we do that? We simply don’t have any interest… It is absolutely out of the question.”
The two-hour interview with Carlson, a former Fox News host and right-wing commentator who backs former US President Donald Trump, was conducted in Moscow.
This was Putin’s first interview with a Western media outlet since his troops invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Carlson has previously openly criticized the United States assistance for Ukraine, referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a “rat-like Ukrainian pimp.”