In an interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his wish that the conflict in Ukraine be resolved through talks.
“We made a large draft of the document in Istanbul, which was handed over to the head of the Ukrainian delegation. He signed certain parts, but not the whole document. He later stated that they were ready to sign the document and that the conflict would have ended 18 months ago, but then the then British Prime Minister Boris Johnson came and answered them from the signature and the chance was missed,” Putin emphasized.
The Russian leader recalled the events of 1991, when Moscow received a promise that there would be no NATO expansion, but that Alliance bases began to appear in Ukraine during the 2000s.
He also pointed to the year 2014, when there was a coup d’état in Ukraine, but also that “it is pointless to go back and forth in history because others stopped the negotiations and that it was their mistake that they should correct”.
“Correct the mistake, we are ready. What else is needed,” Putin asked.
Carlson asked Putin: “Can you imagine a scenario where Russia is ready to send troops to Poland?”
“Only in one case if Poland attacks Russia, why? Because we have no interest in Poland, Latvia or anywhere else,” Putin said.
US politicians have said we “have to continue to fund the Ukrainian effort, or US soldier citizens could wind up fighting there. How do you assess that?” Carlson asked. That argument is based on the fact that Poland and the Baltic states are NATO members, and the alliance’s principle of collective security would kick in if any if them were attacked, necessitating US forces to intervene directly.
“This is a provocation. I do not understand why American soldiers should fight in Ukraine,” Putin said.
“Well, if somebody has the desire to send regular troops, that would certainly bring humanity to the brink of a very serious global conflict. This is obvious,” Putin added.
“Do the United States need this? What for? Thousands of miles away from your national territory. Don’t you have anything better to do? You’ve issues on the border, issues with migration, issues with the national debt… you have nothing better to do, so you should fight in Ukraine?
“Wouldn’t it be better to negotiate with Russia? Make an agreement. Already understanding the situation that is developing today, realising that Russia will fight for its interests to the end.”
Putin also said a solution would be possible if the US stopped supplying weapons.
“If you really want to stop fighting, you need to stop supplying weapons. It will be over within a few weeks, that’s it, and then we can agree on some terms. Before you do that, stop,” Putin said, Al Jazeera writes.
