NEW DELHI: Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared Russia's determination to defend its interests "to the end," while also stating that there is no intention to extend the conflict in Ukraine to other nations, including Poland and Latvia.
During his first discussion with an American reporter since the onset of the Ukraine conflict nearly two years prior, Putin observed that Western leaders have acknowledged the futility of trying to strategically defeat Russia and are contemplating their next steps.
"We are ready for this dialogue," he affirmed.
When questioned about the possibility of deploying Russian forces to Poland, Nato ally, Putin clarified: "Only in one case, if Poland attacks Russia. Why? Because we have no interest in Poland, Latvia or anywhere else. Why would we do that? We simply don't have any interest."
The remarks were part of a lengthy interview exceeding two hours with conservative talk-show host Tucker Carlson, conducted in Moscow.
Putin also expressed strong displeasure after Carlson implied that the Russian president was excessively wary of the United States. At the start of their discussion, Carlson posited that Putin believed the US, through Nato, might launch an unexpected attack on Russia, a suggestion Carlson labeled as paranoid to American listeners. Putin clarified, "It's not that America, the United States was going to launch a surprise strike on Russia," and questioned the seriousness of their discussion. Despite Carlson's attempt to revisit Putin's statement, Putin dismissed it and instead provided a detailed explanation of the historical context between Russia and Ukraine, justifying Moscow's territorial claims.
Putin cited the expansion of Nato as a reason for the February 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine. During the interview, he argued that the US had broken a "promise" that "Nato would not expand eastward," criticizing Nato members for voting in line with "US leadership" demands.
Despite Putin's concerns, Nato has continued to expand during the Ukraine war, with Finland joining the alliance last year and Sweden expected to follow, transforming the Baltic Sea region into a predominantly Nato-aligned area, except for the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
(With inputs from agencies)