Former Fox host Tucker Carlson releases an interview with Putin

Media personality Tucker Carlson has released a controversial interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The over two-hour video was filmed in Moscow, marking the first time Putin has sat down with a Western journalist since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The interview began with Carlson questioning Putin's motives for the invasion, to which Putin responded that he didn't believe the US would launch a surprise attack on Russia. Putin then delved into a detailed discussion about the history of eastern Europe and justified the invasion by claiming parts of Ukraine belonged to Russia. During the interview, Putin gave lengthy answers and redirected the conversation when Carlson tried to refocus on the war in Ukraine. He also discussed his relationships with former US presidents, including George W Bush and Donald Trump, but admitted he couldn't recall the last time he spoke to President Biden. Prior to the interview, Carlson had claimed that no Western journalist had interviewed Putin since 2022, but the Kremlin refuted this, stating that they received many interview requests. Russian state media extensively covered Carlson's visit, showcasing his activities in Moscow. Carlson, who previously worked as a prime-time host on Fox News, launched his own media company and found a platform on X (formerly Twitter), where he conducts interviews with right-wing politicians. However, his viewership numbers have declined significantly in recent times. X counts at least two seconds of watch time as a "view".