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Tucker Carlson, talk show host: "Can you imagine a scenario in which you send Russian troops to Poland?"

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia: »Only in one case, if Poland attacks Russia. Because we have no interest in Poland, Latvia or anywhere else. Why should we do that?”

Vladimir Putin was interviewed by a US journalist for the first time since the Russian attack on Ukraine. The two-hour conversation with the idol of the US right, Tucker Carlson, turned into a Putin propaganda show. The Kremlin leader said in the video with the Tucker Carlson Network that he was even ready for talks with US President Biden – under one condition.

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia: “If you really want to end the fighting, you have to stop supplying weapons. It will be over in a few weeks. That's it. And then we can agree on some terms.”

Carlson, who was apparently ill-prepared, allowed Putin to speak completely uncritically. A welcome stage for the Kremlin boss to once again act as the strong man before the presidential election on March 17th.

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia: »So far there has been a lot of clamor to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia on the battlefield. Now it seems to be realized that this is difficult to achieve, if at all possible. In my opinion it is impossible by definition. It will never happen.”

At the end of the conversation, Putin held out the prospect of the possible release of the imprisoned US journalist Evan Gershkovich. Under conditions, of course...

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia: »I do not rule out the possibility that Mr. Gershkovich can return to his home country. Ultimately, it makes no sense to keep him in custody in Russia. We want the U.S. intelligence community to think about how it can help achieve our intelligence community's goals. We are ready to talk.«

US National Security Council communications director John Kirby warned against innocently believing Putin's statements. The interview appeared on Carlson's website and the platform X (please pronounce it in English, Ex).