Putin talks about the invasion of Poland, the war in Ukraine, America's “spies”, and Russia's joining NATO | world News

Vladimir Putin said Bill Clinton misled him about Russia's potential NATO membership two decades ago.

During a lengthy interview with the former Fox News host Tucker CarlsonThe Russian president said that he asked outgoing President Clinton whether his country could join the alliance when he visited the Kremlin in 2000.

Clinton allegedly initially suggested he thought it was possible, before retracting the statement later the same evening.

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Speaking through an interpreter, Mr. President Put it in He said: “I asked him, ‘Bill, do you think so? Russia Applying to join NATO, do you think that will happen?

“Suddenly he said, 'You know, it's interesting. I think so.'

“But in the evening, when we met for dinner, he said to me: 'You know, I talked to my team, no, this is not possible now.'

In a conversation that extended for more than two hours, Putin spoke at length about his view of Russian history and the country's relationship with Ukraine from the ninth century to the present day.

On the topic of war in UkraineHe told Carlson – who has been a vocal critic of US support for Kiev – that he would be willing to negotiate peace with Kiev. Volodymyr Zelensky But he added that Russia had not yet achieved its goals in the country, including “denazification.”

He said: “We have never rejected negotiations. We hear all the time: Is Russia ready?

“Yes. We did not refuse. They were the ones who refused openly. Well, let him rescind his decree.” [not to negotiate with Russia] And entering into negotiations. We never refused.”

Putin also claimed that he “couldn't remember” the last time he spoke with President Biden and that defeating Russia on the battlefield was “impossible.”

“Until now, there has been a hue and cry about inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia on the battlefield,” he said. “But now they seem to realize that this will be difficult to achieve, if at all possible.”

“In my opinion, this is impossible by definition. It will never happen. And it seems to me that those in power in the West are now realizing this as well.”

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The Russian president also said he had “no interest” in attacking Poland or Latvia, saying he would only do so if either country attacked Russia.

“Getting involved in some kind of world war goes against common sense,” he says, “and a world war would bring all of humanity to the brink of destruction. That much is clear.”

However, we must remember that in January 2022, Putin said he had no plans to invade Ukraine, just days before sending tanks and troops across the border.

Regarding the issue of Wall Street Journal reporter Ivan Gershkovich, who has been imprisoned in Russia for nearly a year, Putin said he “does not rule out” returning the journalist to the United States, provided that the United States takes “similar steps.”

Russia accused Gershkovitch of being an American spy, which the United States denies.

Tucker Carlson, who was a staunch supporter of Putin in the past, was fired from Fox News in April last year.

He took over prime-time weekday evening appearances on Fox News in 2016 with his show Tucker Carlson Tonight, and quickly established himself as a major player at the network and an influential voice in Republican politics.

He has often embraced conspiracy theories and far-right causes. He has repeatedly questioned the effectiveness of Covid vaccines and compared mandates to “Nazi experiments.”

While he was a hit with viewers, his inflammatory comments prompted some advertisers to distance themselves from the show.