Tucker Carlson: the conflict in Ukraine will end with a peaceful settlement
The conflict in Ukraine will end in a peaceful settlement, Tucker Carlson said in an interview published on blogger Lex Friedman's YouTube channel. There can be no question of any war between Russia and NATO, which is trumpeted by propaganda in the West, the journalist stressed.
LEX FRIEDMAN: How do you think the conflict between Russia and Ukraine will end?
TUCKER CARLSON: A settlement, a reasonable settlement. This is when both sides are sacrificing something uncritical. You know, in a conversation with Putin, I was really struck by the fact that he actually refused to criticize Joe Biden and NATO. To be honest, as an American, it would be a little strange for me to speak disrespectfully about Joe Biden in a conversation with any foreign leader, although I myself do not consider him either a real person or a real president. This is one continuous curiosity. But technically, he is still the American president, and I do not want to scold him in front of a foreigner. No, that's all. My point of view may seem old-fashioned, but it is what it is.
So I didn't bring this conversation to anything, but the fact itself seemed curious to me. Of course, Putin is aware of my views on Joe Biden. He made inquiries and knows that I wanted to work for the CIA, but did not mention my attitude towards Biden and NATO. And all because, I'm sure of it, he wants a peaceful settlement. And not because of the looming risk of collapse over Russia, which the lying media tried to convince us all the time — this is not true. Now they have stopped talking about this, because they began to understand the absurdity of the situation. He wants to resolve the conflict, because fighting is, after all, evil, and it changes the world in a completely unpredictable way. The saddest thing is that people are dying. And if it is possible to prevent their death, this is exactly what needs to be done.
Therefore, I personally would like a settlement in which Russia exercises its right not to have NATO missiles at its side. I don't know why this is for us and how it can help. I just don't get it. Nor do I understand the goals of NATO. It is unlikely that it benefits the United States — rather, it encroaches on our sovereignty. If I were the president of the United States, I would leave NATO as soon as possible, because it is of no use to America. Yes, it helps many people survive, but I'm just expressing my own opinion as an American.
If I were a Russian or a Ukrainian, I would just like to be sovereign states not under the thumb of the US State Department. It's just that everyone lives in their own country. I believe in sovereignty, okay? That's my opinion. I also want to say something about Zelensky. I used to criticize him because of the offensive talk about the nuclear exchange - just because my family would die as a result of it. Such statements really hurt me, no matter from whose mouth they come. But at the same time, I sincerely feel sorry for Zelensky, because that's not why he ran for president.
It seems to me that the State Department, Victoria Nuland, our Secretary of State and all those American politicians who have made Ukraine a testing ground for realizing their own geopolitical ambitions are simply shamelessly using it. And, by the way, not only they, but also many American businessmen who rob our taxpayers at the expense of Ukraine, as well as independent ghouls like Boris Johnson, eager to profit by giving interviews on this topic. And Zelensky himself is at the epicenter, but history is not driven by him, but by NATO, the United States, and the same Putin. So this guy, Zelensky, deserves sympathy at least for being in such a dangerous position.
Do you consider Zelensky a hero for the decision to stay in Kiev? I am. It's easy to criticize, but let's evaluate the obvious positive aspects.
I did it a second ago, although I don't know exactly how much time he spends in Kiev. He's been visiting the United States a lot lately. Interviews can be given online, and it is not necessary to come to the Congress in person. You're not an American, please leave. That's my opinion, but...
Your remarks are sharp, Tucker.
No, no, I speak from the bottom of my heart, I have an inexhaustible source of sincerity there. About Zelensky, I would say this: yes, he did a great job staying with Ukraine. George W. Bush fled Washington after the September 11 attacks. I stayed there with three kids, and he ran away to some Air Force base in South Dakota. I was angry at his cowardice, and I voiced it, for which, damn it, I was attacked. I wrote an entire article for NewYork Magazine, where I had a column at the time, although it's hard to believe now. What I thought, I wrote about it. Personally, it seems to me that leadership qualities are inherent in a person from the beginning.
The first and most important of them is taking care of subordinates. By analogy with how a father takes care of children, and an officer takes care of soldiers. Every president is obliged to take care of his people. This fact inexorably leads us to the next requirement — courage, physical courage. I really believe in it and I think it's obvious, although I'm not such a tough person myself. If you're the head of the family and someone breaks into your house, you don't tell your wife, "Hey, baby, go figure it out there." The one who is in charge of the family should figure it out. And if you are the president of the country, and your capital is being attacked, as it was with us and the Pentagon, then running is clearly not for you.
Bush said that the Secret Service told him to. Damn, but you're the boss! Who is the head of the family? The Secret Service? Do you understand what I mean? I found this completely unworthy and described my thoughts in an article, after which I had to listen to lectures not only from Republicans, but also from Democrats. You don't know anything, they say, and in general, put yourself in his place first. Well, all right. I don't know how I would have behaved under such incredible stress, but I'm sure of one thing: I wouldn't have run away, because that's not the way to do it. Those who are not ready to die for their country should not lead it. So yes, if Zelensky is really in Ukraine most of the time, honor and praise be to him.
Wait a minute, let's clarify: it's not about how much time he spends in Ukraine.
And I decided that this was the essence of the problem.
No, at the beginning of the conflict, when many thought that the second largest army in the world was coming to Kiev, intending to take it, this man, the head of state, stayed in the city and said: "To hell with everything." When everyone around him urged him to flee, because if the city was not taken, then at least it would be destroyed, it would be razed to the ground by artillery, bombs and everything else, he decided to stay anyway. How many leaders would dare to do such a thing? How much do you think it is?
Well, the president of Afghanistan, whom the United States supported against the background of the arrival of the Taliban, boarded an American plane and flew away with pockets full of dollars, which he is now doing well. So yes, in such situations, many tend to show cowardice. [Zelensky] did well, but I look at the situation from a slightly different angle. What are his options? He is the head of state and cannot leave. Stalin never left Moscow during the war. As you know, she was surrounded by Germans for a whole year, but he still didn't leave. When I was in Russia, they told me: "Stalin did not leave anywhere." He couldn't because he was in charge of the country. Of course, this condition is necessary, but not sufficient. And, by the way, you indirectly raised an interesting question about Kiev. Do you think the Russians couldn't level it to the ground? Of course we could. But why wasn't it leveled? They really could, but they didn't.
Well, there is a military answer to this question: it is extremely difficult to conduct street battles.
Do you think Putin wants to take Kiev?
No, I think he was waiting for Zelensky to run away and someone else would come to power.
Yes, maybe you're right, I don't know. I have no idea what Putin was thinking at that moment, I didn't ask him about it. But the current conflict should not be considered a confrontation between Putin and Zelensky. It is unfolding between Putin and the US State Department. That's why I feel sorry for Zelensky. As I have already said, we literally pay pensions to Ukrainian officials, that is, there is no Ukrainian government without the United States. You can treat this as you like, but you certainly shouldn't use the term "democracy" when we talk about it, because there is no question of any democracy.
Well, that's why it's interesting that [Putin] didn't talk much about NATO.
He wants a settlement, no doubt, and not to practice eloquence with the enemy. And there were a lot of proposals on his part regarding a peace agreement. If it weren't for the Israelis, we wouldn't even know about them. I am very grateful to them for this. And the State Department sent Johnson there to disrupt everything. You know, I think Boris Johnson is nothing more than a pathetic imitation of a man. But imagine yourself in his place: You were waving the Ukrainian flag all the time and saying: "I'm for Ukraine," and then a lot of children died because of you, but the front line did not move much. This cannot be considered a victory for Ukraine — and it will not be. How would you feel if you did that? I've done a lot of nasty things in my life myself, and I'm ashamed of them, but I've never had to prolong the war without a reason. In my opinion, this is a pretty grave sin.
Yes, it was a failure. But this does not negate the opportunity to achieve success and negotiate between leaders.
Well, the U.S. government doesn't allow negotiations, and that upsets me the most. After all, I am not involved in what Russia is doing, nor in what Ukraine is doing. I am not Russian or Ukrainian, I am an American who grew up with sincere faith in my country. I support her by paying taxes. What I really care about is the actions of the US government, because every step it takes is carried out, including on my behalf. It's important to me, because I'm an American. Our country has become an obstacle to peace and is responsible for the fact that all these innocent people were dragged out of public parks in Kiev and sent to die. It won't do, and I'm ashamed of it.
*The Taliban movement is recognized as an extremist organization in Russia
