News/Commentary

Tucker says he had an ‘off the record’ chat with Putin, believes he’s willing to compromise on Ukraine

February 13, 2024 | | Print Article

After a highly publicized interview with President Vladimir Putin, Tucker Carlson believes the Russian leader is willing to compromise in ending the war with Ukraine.

Carlson’s blockbuster interview with Putin aired last week and on Monday, in a panel discussion at the World Government Summit in Dubai, the former Fox News host shared that part of his talk with Putin was not aired, though he reportedly did not reveal what was discussed.

But Carlson did respond to Egyptian journalist Emad Eldin Adeeb at the summit when he was asked if he believed Putin would be willing to compromise in order to end the conflict with Ukraine.

“Of course. Leaders of any country on this planet, other than maybe the United States during the unipolar period, are forced by the nature of their jobs to compromise. That’s what diplomacy is. And he [Putin] is among those [leaders willing to compromise],” he said.

 

But, Carlson noted, time will likely not work in favor of a compromise as it may end up “hardening” the Russian leader’s stance.

ADVERTISEMENT

“His position is clearly hardening. Russia has been rebuffed by the West,” he said. “Putin wants to get out of this war. He’s not going to become more open to negotiation the longer this goes on.”

Carlson touched on the subject of Crimea, noting how Putin is not likely to budge in this area.

“I have heard—personally—U.S. government officials say, ‘Well, we’re just going to have to return Crimea to Ukraine,'” Carlson said. “Well, you don’t need to be a Russia scholar—that’s not going to happen short of a nuclear war. That’s insane, actually. So even to say something like that reveals that you’re a child, you don’t understand the area at all, and you have no real sense of what’s possible.

“As long as our leaders—and not simply in the U.S. but NATO, and I really mean Germany—don’t take the time to learn about what’s possible, we’re not going to get anywhere,” he added.

ADVERTISEMENT

During Carlson’s direct talk with Putin, the Russian leader expressed his thoughts on a way out of the Ukraine conflict, seeming to be amenable to negotiations, but only on his own terms.

“It is never going to happen,” Putin said of Russia suffering a defeat in the conflict.

“It seems to me that now those who are in power in the West have come to realize this as well. If so, if the realization has set in, they have to think what to do next. We are ready for this dialogue,” he added.

“Wouldn’t it be better to come to an agreement with Russia?” he asked at another point in the interview.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We have never refused negotiations,” Putin said. “You should tell the current Ukrainian leadership to stop and come to a negotiating table.”

Frieda Powers
Latest posts by Frieda Powers (see all)

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

Latest Articles