Russian chief says deal to launch Wall Road Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich doable after ‘reciprocal steps’.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that defeating Russia in Ukraine is “unattainable” whereas insisting he doesn’t search to increase the struggle to neighbouring international locations similar to Poland and Latvia.
In a high-profile interview with former Fox Information host Tucker Carlson, Putin denied that he had territorial ambitions throughout Europe and stated he would solely ship troops into neighbouring international locations if attacked first.
“It’s completely out of the query. You simply don’t should be any form of analyst, it goes towards widespread sense to become involved in some form of a worldwide struggle, and a worldwide struggle will convey all of humanity to the brink of devastation,” Putin stated within the interview posted on-line on Thursday. “It’s apparent.”
Throughout a two-hour interview that noticed Putin discuss at size in regards to the historical past of Jap Europe and Russia, the Russian chief stated that his authorities was involved with the US and {that a} peaceable decision to the struggle would solely be doable if Washington stops supplying weapons to Ukraine.
“I’ll inform you what we’re saying on this matter and what we’re conveying to the US management,” Putin stated. “For those who actually wish to cease combating, you should cease supplying weapons. Will probably be over inside a number of weeks, that’s it, after which we will agree on some phrases. Earlier than you try this, cease.”
Requested by Carlson whether or not he could be keen to launch imprisoned Wall Road Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich as a “signal of your decency”, the Russian chief stated a deal is feasible and there’s “no taboo” on resolving the problem.
“We’ve achieved so many gestures of goodwill out of decency that I feel we’ve run out of them. No, we’ve by no means seen anybody reciprocate to us in an analogous method. Nonetheless, in idea, we will say that we don’t rule out that we will try this if our companions take reciprocal steps,” Putin stated.
Gershkovich has been detained in Russia since March 2023 on spying fees that Washington has described as “baseless”.
The Kremlin stated Putin agreed to take a seat down with Carlson as a result of he offered a much less one-sided view of the struggle in Ukraine.
Carlson has repeatedly questioned the rationale for US assist for Kyiv, and in a video posted on social media this week, he criticised US media retailers for his or her “fawning” protection of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Earlier than the interview, Carlson attracted criticism for travelling to Moscow to interview the Russian chief, with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton labelling the previous TV host a “helpful fool”.
