The Kremlin has yet to confirm an interview with Mr. Carlson, marking a potential milestone as President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia appears poised to engage directly with Western media amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
In a video shared on the social network X, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson announced the forthcoming interview, indicating a strategic move by Putin to connect with American conservatives amidst the uncertainty surrounding U.S. aid to Ukraine.
“We’re here to interview the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin,” Carlson stated from what appeared to be a central Moscow high-rise, hinting at the imminent dialogue.
Putin (Credits: PBS)
However, the Kremlin has not promptly confirmed the interview, maintaining silence on the matter when questioned by journalists recently. Carlson’s presence in Moscow, as reported by Russian state media with detailed coverage of his visit, has sparked speculation about a potential interview between Carlson and Putin.
While the timing of any prospective interview remains unspecified, if realized, it would mark Putin’s first formal engagement with a Western media figure since the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Additionally, it would be his first interaction with an American outlet since his conversation with CNBC in 2021.
Putin’s administration has significantly restricted the access of Western journalists in Russia, exemplified by the imprisonment of Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich on espionage charges, a move denounced by him, his employer, and the U.S. government. The Kremlin has dismissed Western countries’ criticisms as “stupefied” by anti-Russian propaganda.
This interview assumes heightened significance against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with American aid to Kyiv currently facing obstacles in Congress. The Senate is expected to vote on an aid package on Wednesday, yet its passage is doubtful as an increasing number of Republicans have voiced their opposition.
