Tucker Carlson became the first Western journalist to sit down with Vladimir Putin since the special military operation in Ukraine.
Former television host Tucker Carlson conducted an interview with President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin confirmed Wednesday, calling it “pro-American,” as the journalist revealed just a day earlier that he was going to interview the Russian leader.
Tucker Carlson, who was host of Fox NewsHe became the first Western journalist to sit down with Vladimir Putin since the special military operation in Ukraine began in February 2022.
Just a day earlier, the 56-year-old said in a video message posted on X, formerly Twitter, that “people who speak English without knowing it” also need to listen to the 71-year-old Russian leader, as his media “corrupt and they lie to them.”
“We do not encourage you to agree with anything Putin may say in this interview,” Tucker Carlson announced in a video on X, adding that “most Americans have no idea why Putin invaded Ukraine or what his goals now.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin had agreed to the interview with Carlson because of his different approach, which is not aligned with “one-sided” reporting on the Ukraine conflict, unlike Western media.
“When it comes to the countries of the collective West, the big media, the television channels and the big newspapers cannot boast of trying to at least appear impartial in terms of coverage,” Peskov said at a news conference. Wednesday.
“These are all media outlets that take an exceptionally one-sided position. Of course, there is no desire to communicate with such outlets, and this does not make much sense and is unlikely to be useful.”
Responding to a question about why Carlson interviewed Putin, the spokesman said the journalist's approach “was in no way pro-Russian, it's not pro-Ukrainian, it's pro-American.”
According to Russian media TAS news agency, the interview will likely air on Thursday.
Putin was last interviewed by Western media. CNBC in 2021.
