Carlson began the more than two-hour long video with a brief monologue about his impressions following the interview, complaining that the two-hour conversation was longer than expected while adding that he emerged convinced that Putin’s long-stated belief in Russia’s historic claim to Ukrainian territory was sincere.
A long, drawn-out and thoroughly twisted history lesson would follow, which is one of Putin’s favored tactics. Apparently tuckered out by Putin’s spiel, Carlson pointed out, “I’m not sure why it's relevant to what happened two years ago.” In the course of the interview, Putin revisited old grievances about Russia offering to join NATO and being rejected. He blamed the U.S. for helping Ukraine to get rid of its formerly pro-Russian presidents, to which Putin was accustomed. He recalled successfully pressuring Yanukovych into not signing an association agreement with the EU. Putin blamed Ukraine’s Revolution of Dignity on the CIA, noting, “the organization you wanted to join back in the day, as I understand.
Carlson parried: “I was busy that day. I did not blow up Nord Stream. Thank you though.” Once again, Putin blamed the CIA, but refused to elaborate as to whether Russia has any evidence to prove that.Rescuers search for people under the rubble at a residential building damaged in the Russian missile attack on Kharkiv.