Russian President Vladimir Putin has been interviewed by former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, marking his first interaction with a Western media figure since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago. Confirmation of the interview came from the Kremlin on Wednesday.
Carlson had released a video from Moscow on Tuesday, announcing his upcoming interview with Putin. He criticized Western journalists for conducting multiple interviews with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy but not bothering to interview the Russian president.
The interview is scheduled to be posted on Thursday, according to Justin Wells, head of programming at Carlson’s streaming network. The content of the interview remains unknown.
Tucker Carlson and Putin (Credits: Times Now)
Since launching the war in Ukraine in February 2022, Putin has significantly restricted his engagement with international media.
Russian authorities have cracked down on media outlets, leading to the closure of some independent Russian organizations, the blocking of others, and the expulsion of several foreign reporters.
Two journalists working for U.S. news organizations, Evan Gershkovich of The Wall Street Journal and Alsu Kurmasheva of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, are currently in jail on charges they reject.
Despite inviting Western journalists to Putin’s annual press conference in December – the first since the war began – only two were given the opportunity to ask a question, reflecting the increased control over media interactions by Russian authorities.
