Explaining Putin's "obsessive ideas" in the interview with Tucker Carlson
After the full-scale invasion of Ukraine started two years ago, Carlson—a former Fox News celebrity who is now an internet commentator—was hand-picked by the Kremlin for his first interview with a Western reporter.
The explanation is clear: Carlson called for the United States to stop sending Kyiv multibillion-dollar aid packages, referred to the Russia-Ukraine war as a “border dispute,” and branded Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “pimp” and a “rat”.
Unlike when he used to sabotage pro-Democratic guests on the Fox News show he was dismissed from last year, Carlson did not put any pressure on Putin during the two-hour conversation that was captured in a Kremlin audience hall furnished with gilded furnishings.
Putin wants Carlson to persuade Republicans to quit supporting Ukraine and focus on domestic issues, which seems to be his obvious purpose.
Unlike when he used to sabotage pro-Democratic guests on the Fox News show he was dismissed from last year, Carlson did not put any pressure on Putin during the two-hour conversation that was captured in a Kremlin audience hall furnished with gilded furnishings.
Putin wants Carlson to persuade Republicans to quit supporting Ukraine and focus on domestic issues, which seems to be his obvious purpose.
For the bulk of their conversation, Putin appeared naive and embarrassed as he informed Carlson, "You have issues on the border, issues with migration, and issues with the national debt." "You should fight in Ukraine because you have nothing better to do, right? Isn't it
preferable to hold talks with Russia?
While refusing, Putin stated that the solution was "very simple" in response to Carlson's question on if he could just call US President Joe Biden to "work it out."
While refusing, Putin stated that the solution was "very simple" in response to Carlson's question on if he could just call US President Joe Biden to "work it out."
"You must cease supplying weapons if you truly want to stop fighting. It's going to end in a few weeks. That is all. Then we can settle on a few conditions," he stated.
Carlson made no attempt to challenge Putin's ludicrous and unfounded assertions.
One was Putin's view that the US is not governed by elected officials.
You have now mentioned US presidents making judgments twice only to have their agency heads undermine them afterwards. According to Carlson, it appears that you are discussing a system that is not governed by the individuals you say are elected.
Without providing any more context, Putin remarked, "That's right," to which Carlson quickly nodded.
Then he questioned Putin on who was responsible for the Baltic Sea explosion in 2022 that destroyed Nord Stream, a vital natural gas pipeline that supplied Moscow with natural gas.
Although Carlson referred to it as "the biggest act of industrial terrorism ever," he offered no hard proof to refute Putin's accusation that the CIA was responsible for blowing up the pipeline.
Exhausting clichés or a history lesson?
Putin gave a lengthy history lesson on Eastern Europe before the interview began, repeating the Kremlin's deceptive position on Kyivan Rus, the mediaeval powerhouse whose collapse gave rise to modern-day Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.Carlson only nodded in confusion as Putin told him about a Viking ruler called Ruric, whose ancestors controlled Kyivan Rus. Carlson appeared to know nothing about the subject. A millennium ago, Prince Vladimir was one of them and became an Orthodox Christian.
Putin said that Austria, the worst adversary of czarist Russia, "invented" the whole concept of Ukraine and that Russia was the only country that could legitimately succeed Kyivan Rus.
According to Putin, "the Austrian general staff started actively promoting the ideas of Ukraine and the Ukrainianization before World War I and relied on these concepts."
The talk might seem pointless and dull to Carlson's audience as well as many others in the West.
Putin's version of events, however, serves as a frightening and sobering reminder to Ukrainians that the Kremlin rejects their basic right to exist.
Putin said that Austria, the worst adversary of czarist Russia, "invented" the whole concept of Ukraine and that Russia was the only country that could legitimately succeed Kyivan Rus.
According to Putin, "the Austrian general staff started actively promoting the ideas of Ukraine and the Ukrainianization before World War I and relied on these concepts."
The talk might seem pointless and dull to Carlson's audience as well as many others in the West.
Putin's version of events, however, serves as a frightening and sobering reminder to Ukrainians that the Kremlin rejects their basic right to exist.
Maria Kucherenko, an analyst with the Ukrainian Institute of the Future, a think tank in Kyiv, stated, "Because all of these anecdotes about Prince Vladimir and Rurik have to tell all sceptics just one thing – this man has obsessive ideas."
She told Al Jazeera, "And he won't stop at anything to make them real."
Officials and popular personalities from Ukraine who have personally met with Putin have long stated that Putin is committed to doing all it takes to subjugate and destroy Ukraine.
She told Al Jazeera, "And he won't stop at anything to make them real."
Officials and popular personalities from Ukraine who have personally met with Putin have long stated that Putin is committed to doing all it takes to subjugate and destroy Ukraine.
Maria Kucherenko, an analyst with the Ukrainian Institute of the Future, a think tank in Kyiv, stated, "Because all of these anecdotes about Prince Vladimir and Rurik have to tell all sceptics just one thing – this man has obsessive ideas."
She told Al Jazeera, "And he won't stop at anything to make them real."
Officials and popular personalities from Ukraine who have personally met with Putin have long stated that Putin is committed to doing all it takes to subjugate and destroy Ukraine.
Recalling his interactions with Putin, Yuriy Vitrenko, the CEO of Ukraine's national energy corporation Naftogaz at the time, told this writer in 2021 that "he is tough and he behaves like he has this almost divine power, over Ukraine in particular."
Other observers from Ukraine saw nothing but cliches from the Kremlin throughout the interview.
Other observers from Ukraine saw nothing but cliches from the Kremlin throughout the interview.
"The table is really small, which is the only noteworthy aspect of this interview! Svetlana Chunikhina, vice president of the Association of Political Psychologists, a group based in Kyiv, told Al Jazeera, "The rest we have seen and heard a gazillion times."
"The insane lunatic who babbled about his love of killing Ukrainians for two hours had Tucker goddamned Carlson for a microphone stand."
The interview appears to be a Kremlin public relations ploy aimed at persuading ordinary Russians that their country has not become an international pariah abandoned by the West as a result of Putin's conflict, according to a Russian observer.
"The insane lunatic who babbled about his love of killing Ukrainians for two hours had Tucker goddamned Carlson for a microphone stand."
The interview appears to be a Kremlin public relations ploy aimed at persuading ordinary Russians that their country has not become an international pariah abandoned by the West as a result of Putin's conflict, according to a Russian observer.
"They aim to demonstrate that Russia merely divides elites within the civilized world, rather than confronting it." To emphasize that there are other elites, and here is a renowned journalist interviewing [Putin],” stated exiled opposition activist Sergey Biziyukin of Ryazan, western Russia.
Referring to Donald Trump's potential win in the November presidential election as well as the recent successes of a number of nationalist and far-right organizations in Europe, he told Al Jazeera, "And that once [these elites] win elections, the West will admit that Russia is right."
For Ukraine, the timing of the interview was crucial.
Referring to Donald Trump's potential win in the November presidential election as well as the recent successes of a number of nationalist and far-right organizations in Europe, he told Al Jazeera, "And that once [these elites] win elections, the West will admit that Russia is right."
For Ukraine, the timing of the interview was crucial.
Republicans rejected a multibillion-dollar aid package that was vital to Kyiv on Wednesday, and Zelenskyy made the highly controversial decision to replace top general Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who was widely respected and powerful.
But, the interview is seen by Ukrainian military as nothing more than a sign of weakness.
After watching portions of the conversation on his cellphone, Valentin, a Ukrainian drone operator stationed in the eastern province of Donetsk, remarked, "They're two losers trying to support each other, trying to voice their conspiracy theories."
But, the interview is seen by Ukrainian military as nothing more than a sign of weakness.
After watching portions of the conversation on his cellphone, Valentin, a Ukrainian drone operator stationed in the eastern province of Donetsk, remarked, "They're two losers trying to support each other, trying to voice their conspiracy theories."