Putin reiterated his statement that Ukraine's inception is not tied to any ethnic entity. He described that the term 'Ukrainian' originally meant 'people living on the outskirts,' thus historically depicting Ukrainians as Russified Poles.

The Russian leader evidently prepared thoroughly to paint this background, so seriously that he pulled out pre-prepared archival documents in response to the host's objection that perhaps the topic was being approached from too far back.

Putin elaborated at length on Poland's collaboration with Nazi Germany. He then argued that since these regions became part of the Soviet Union, along with areas previously belonging to Hungary, it is evident that Ukraine is actually an artificial state.

Responding to Tucker Carlson's query about whether he ever offered Viktor Orban any territories in Ukraine, Putin answered with a definitive no.

He stated that such a discussion never occurred with the Hungarian Prime Minister. However, he added with a smile that it’s possible the Hungarians living in those areas would be pleased to reclaim their ancestral lands. He also shared a story from his Soviet-era travels in Ukraine when he heard people speaking Russian and Hungarian but never Ukrainian.

Putin repeated his argument that the West previously promised NATO would not expand eastward, claiming this promise was broken five times. He insisted it was America that "let the genie out of the bottle" (omitting that NATO’s enlargement involved the voluntary accession of sovereign states).

PUTIN SUGGESTS RUSSIA COULD HAVE BEEN PART OF NATO

Putin recalled that during a conversation with then-U.S. President Bill Clinton, he asked whether Russia could join NATO. As he remembered, Clinton was initially receptive but changed his stance after consulting with his advisors the following day. Putin suggested that had Clinton agreed, Russia might have been part of NATO. He attributed current problems to the West’s reluctance to welcome Russia after the Soviet Union’s collapse.

Putin emphasized that decisions in the United States are not made by elected officials, but by intelligence services or administration members. He reiterated that Ukraine’s abandonment of neutrality and move towards NATO occurred despite previous assurances to Russia by the West. However, it must be noted again that this orientation was actually a sovereign decision by Ukraine itself.

When Carlson inquired about the prospects for peace in Ukraine, Putin stated: “If they truly wish to end the fighting, then they should stop sending arms. It'll be over in a few weeks. That’s all.”

PUTIN REGARD GLOBAL WAR THREATS AS HYSTERIA

The Russian president claimed to have no demands on countries like Poland or the Baltic states, assuring that he would order attacks against these nations only if they assaulted Russia. Putin branded the threat of global war as irrational and akin to hysteria.

> It was clearly you. I happened to be busy that day.

Putin responded to a question about who blew up the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. He added that one of the pipes is in perfect condition and could be used to deliver gas to Europe immediately, alongside the Yamal pipeline.

Putin reiterated the “denazification” of Ukraine as a goal of the war. He insisted this objective must be fulfilled, providing a rationale for the conflict's continuation. He accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of supporting neo-Nazis and nationalists despite his father fighting against Nazi Germany. Putin explained that Zelensky opted not to disturb these groups upon election due to their strength. Additionally, Putin explicitly expressed for the first time what he means by “denazification.”

It means banning any neo-Nazi movements. We must rid ourselves of the people maintaining this concept, supporting this practice, and trying to preserve it.

SANCTIONS COULD BE IMPOSED ON TUCKER CARLSON FOLLOWING THE INTERVIEW

The conversation is guaranteed to be widely discussed in the days to come, but has already ignited debates. Due to the two-hour interview, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson could potentially clash with the European Union, said former Belgian Prime Minister and current Member of the European Parliament Guy Verhofstadt to Newsweek.

The lawmaker, who called on the EU to consider implementing a "travel ban" against Carlson, described the television host as a mouthpiece for former President Donald Trump and Putin, adding:

Since Putin is a war criminal, and the EU sanctions those who assist him, it seems logical that the External Action Service should investigate his case too.

The European External Action Service (EEAS) is the diplomatic arm of the EU, responsible for foreign policy. Substantiating evidence must be provided for an individual to be put on a sanctions list. If deemed sufficient by the EEAS, the matter could be submitted to the European Council, comprised of EU national leaders, who ultimately decide on imposing sanctions. Leaders of member states can also directly propose sanctions through the Council.

Orbán Balázs, political director of the Hungarian Prime Minister, advocated for Carlson on X (formerly Twitter): "Don't bother, we will never allow this!"

CARLSON CLAIMS THE ANGLO-SAXON PRESS MISLEADS ITS AUDIENCE

As reported by Index, Tucker Carlson, an American conservative commentator, was spotted visiting Moscow in early February. While details of his trip were initially unknown, he signalled interest in interviewing Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin's press secretary claimed at the time that no conversation was planned.

Carlson confirmed on Tuesday that he interviewed the Russian leader, making him the first American to do so since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Carlson believes "the populations of English-speaking countries are poorly informed about the war in Ukraine because no one has told them the truth." He argues that Western media misleads its audience.

Tucker Carlson also interviewed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán last August. The discussion mainly concerned the Russo-Ukrainian war. Orbán then stated that the conflict would end immediately if Donald Trump were the President of the United States.