Ousted Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson is airing his controversial interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Carlson could face sanctions for the interview, including a travel ban instituted by the European Union.
“Most Americans have no idea why Putin invaded Ukraine or what his goals are now,” Carlson told his followers in a video statement posted from Moscow on Tuesday, explaining his reasoning behind wanting to talk to the Russian leader.
“We are not here because we love Vladimir Putin…We are not encouraging you to agree with what Putin may say in this interview, but we are urging you to watch it. You should know as much as you can,” he said.
When and How To Watch the Interview
Carlson’s interview with Putin will air on Thursday February 8 at 6 p.m ET/ 3 p.m PT. It will be available to watch on his website, www.tuckercarlson.com, for paying subscribers only.
It is Putin’s first interview with Western media since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine was launched in February 2022.
“Americans have a right to know all they can about a war they’re implicated in and we have the right to tell them about it,” Carlson said in his video statement.
Before the interview has even gone to air, Carlson has faced criticism from a variety of sources.
“The host’s anti-Ukraine talking points have even been celebrated by and circulated in Russian state media,” watchdog Media Matters previously told Newsweek.
Carlson has said his interview with Putin is important and the world needed to hear from the Russian leader himself.
“We’re in journalism, our duty is to inform people,” he said in his video which was also posted to X, formerly Twitter.
Nevertheless, at least one EU lawmaker wants to impose a travel ban on Carlson for going to Moscow and speaking to Putin.
“First of all, it should be remembered that Putin is not just a president of an aggressor country, but he is wanted by the International Criminal Court and accused of genocide and war crimes,” MEP Urmas Paet, who previously served as Estonia’s foreign minister, told Newsweek.
“Carlson wants to give a platform to someone accused of crimes of genocide—this is wrong,” Paet said. “If Putin has something to say he needs to say it in front of the ICC. At the same time Carlson is not being a real journalist since he has clearly expressed his sympathy for the Russian regime and Putin and has constantly disparaged Ukraine, the victim of Russian aggression.
“So, for such propaganda for a criminal regime, you can end up on the list of sanctions. This concerns primarily travel ban to EU countries.”
The Kremlin has insisted Carlson’s interview is balanced and fair.
“His position is different from the others,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said of Carlson on Wednesday. “It is in no way pro-Russian, it is not pro-Ukrainian, it is pro-American, but at least it contrasts with the position of the traditional Anglo-Saxon media.”
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This story was originally published February 8, 2024, 4:46 AM.
source: star-telegram
