President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia will “quickly” sit for an interview with Tucker Carlson, the previous Fox Information host mentioned on Tuesday, an indication that the Russian chief is in search of to make a direct enchantment to American conservatives as American support to Ukraine hangs within the steadiness.
“We’re right here to interview the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin,” Mr. Carlson mentioned in a video apparently shot from a high-rise in central Moscow and posted to the social community X. “We’ll be doing that quickly.”
The Kremlin didn’t instantly affirm that the interview will happen, and has declined to touch upon the likelihood when requested by journalists in current days. Mr. Carlson has been in Moscow for a number of days, in accordance with Russian state media, which has delivered a blow-by-blow account of his go to, elevating anticipation of a possible interview by Mr. Carlson of Mr. Putin.
Mr. Carlson didn’t specify the timing of any upcoming interview. It could be Mr. Putin’s first formal interview with a Western media determine for the reason that begin of his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and his first with an American outlet since he spoke with CNBC in 2021.
Mr. Putin’s authorities has drastically diminished the flexibility of Western journalists to cowl Russia, and imprisoned The Wall Road Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich on espionage prices that he, his employer and america authorities vehemently deny. The Kremlin has referred to Western international locations as having been “stupefied” by anti-Russian propaganda.
The interview would come at a essential time for the battle in Ukraine, with American support to Kyiv stalled in Congress. A vote within the Senate on an support bundle on Wednesday is nearly sure to fail after an growing variety of Republicans mentioned they’d not help it.
An interview on the Kremlin could possibly be mutually useful for Mr. Carlson and Mr. Putin. Mr. Carlson misplaced probably the most distinguished platform in conservative media when he was pushed from Fox’s lineup final 12 months, whereas Mr. Putin misplaced his most distinguished anti-Ukraine propagandist in america.
In talking with Mr. Carlson, Mr. Putin would possible be in search of to bolster that time and seize a chance: an opportunity to achieve a probably sympathetic viewers in america.
Mr. Carlson, just like the Republican presidential front-runner, Donald J. Trump, is skeptical of additional American help for Ukraine in its combat in opposition to Russia’s invasion, and has embraced Mr. Putin’s efforts to place himself as a worldwide standard-bearer for “conventional values,” like opposing L.G.B.T. rights.
Mr. Putin’s calculus, in good half, seems tied to the battle in Ukraine. The interview may inflame political divisions over Ukraine inside america, particularly if Mr. Putin alerts that he’s open to a negotiated finish to the battle. Mr. Carlson’s arrival in Moscow, and hypothesis that he was there to interview Mr. Putin, drew a mixture of condemnation and reward from distinguished X customers.
“He’s a traitor,’‘ former Consultant Adam Kinzinger, a Republican of Illinois, wrote in a message, referring to Mr. Carlson. Consultant Marjorie Taylor-Greene, the Trump-aligned congresswoman of Georgia, lauded the information, saying: “Democrats and their propagandists are spasming on the prospect of Tucker Carlson interviewing Putin.”