Vladimir Putin’s interview with Tucker Carlson was packed full of bombshell revelations.
But equally shocking were his outrageous claims on several controversial topics that went virtually unchallenged by his host.
During the two-hour-and-seven-minute interview the Russian leader bounced from one outlandish claim to the next, including suggesting that Poland started WWII and that the CIA blew up the Nord Stream pipelines.
His unchecked remarks came during the hotly anticipated interview that dropped on Thursday evening. Americans were warned ‘not to believe anything’ by White House Communications Coordinator John Kirby prior to its release.
But it seems the advice went over Carlson’s head as he refused to probe several wild claims. Here DailyMail.com breaks down some of the misinformation peddled by the Russian leader.
During the two-hour-and-seven minute interview Russian president Vladimir Putin bounced from one outlandish claim to the next, including suggesting that Poland started WWII and that the CIA blew up the Nord Stream pipelines
Poland started WW2
At first, Putin appeared to demonstrate a thorough grasp his region’s history, with Carlson even praising his ‘encyclopedic knowledge.’
But when it came to World War II, his understanding appeared to be somewhat skewed.
The Russian leader blamed Poland for starting the global conflict by working with German leader Adolf Hitler. He cited Germany’s invasion of Poland as evidence it was to blame.
‘So before World War 2, Poland collaborated with Hitler,’ Putin stated. ‘And although it did not yield to Hitler’s demands, it still participated in the partitioning of Czechoslovakia together with Hitler, as the Poles had not given the Danzig corridor to Germany, and went too far, pushing Hitler to start World War 2 by attacking them.
The Russian leader blamed Poland for starting the global conflict by working with German leader Adolf Hitler. He cited Germany’s invasion of Poland as evidence it was to blame
In reality, historians attribute the start of the World War II to the Nazis’ decision to invade neighboring countries due to Hitler’s aggressive expansionism. Pictured: Hitler shortly after the invasion of Poland in 1939
‘Why was it Poland against whom the war started, on 1st September 1939? Poland turned out to be uncompromising, and Hitler had nothing to do but start implementing his plans with Poland.’
In reality, historians attribute the start of the World War II to the Nazis’ decision to invade neighboring countries due to Hitler’s aggressive expansionism.
His decision to invade Poland came after he sent troops to occupy Austria and annexed Czechoslovakia without reproach from the international community, which many feel paved the way for his later invasion.
Russia ‘owns’ Ukraine
One of Putin’s major justifications for the war in Ukraine is his fundamental belief the country belongs to Russia.
He cited the creation of the USSR as the point of establishment of Ukraine.
‘After the victory in the Great Patriotic War, as we call World War II, and all those territories were ultimately enshrined as belonging to Russia, to the USSR,’ Putin explained.
One of Putin’s major justifications for the war in Ukraine is his fundamental belief the country belongs to Russia
In reality, Ukraine declared its independence from Russia in 1991 after the collapse of the USSR. Historically the country has also been ruled by Lithuania and Poland, neither of which are attempting to exercise claims over the country. Pictured: A couple walks near the rubble of destroyed buildings in Kupiansk, Kharkiv region, of Ukraine
‘As for Poland, it received, apparently in compensation, the lands which had originally been German. The eastern parts of Germany. These are now western lands of Poland. Of course, Poland regained access to the Baltic Sea and Danzig.
‘Which was once again given its Polish name. So this was how this situation developed.
‘In 1922 when the USSR was being established, the Bolsheviks started building the USSR and established the Soviet Ukraine, which had never existed before.’
In reality, Ukraine declared its independence from Russia in 1991 after the collapse of the USSR.
Historically the country has also been ruled by Lithuania and Poland, neither of which are attempting to exercise claims over the country.
However, Carlson’s only response to the 30-minute monologue – ‘Right.’
Ukraine is a satellite for the US
‘Ukraine is obviously a satellite state of the US,’ Putin declared. ‘It is evident. I do not want you to take it as if I am looking for a strong word or an insult.’
The Russian leader cited the US’ ongoing financial support to the war-torn country as evidence for his claim.
The Russian leader cited the US’ ongoing financial support to the war-torn country as evidence for his claim that Ukraine is a satellite of the US
But while Ukraine’s president Vlodomyr Zelenskyy has thanked the USA for its $75 billion in support, he has emphasized the conflict is about Ukrainian sovereignty. Pictured Zelenskyy addressing Congress in 2022
Zelenskyy is pictured in the Oval Office with President Joe Biden during a visit to Washington, DC, in December 2023
‘Dozens of billions of US dollars are going to Ukraine. There’s a huge influx of weapons,’ Putin said.
But while Ukraine’s president Vlodomyr Zelenskyy has thanked the USA for its $75 billion in support, he has emphasized the conflict is about Ukrainian sovereignty.
‘For me as the president, just peace is no compromises as to the sovereignty, freedom and territorial integrity of my country. The payback for all the damages inflicted by Russian aggression,” Zelenskyy said in December 2022.
CIA blew up Nord Stream
The culprit for the Nord Stream gas pipeline explosions has been hotly contested since they were hit in September 2022.
The attack came as Europe attempted to wean itself off Russian energy sources following the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and contributed to tensions that followed the start of the war.
But Putin was unequivocal in laying the blame squarely on the shoulders of the CIA.
When Carlson asked the Russian president who blew up Nord Stream, he responded:, ‘You for sure.’
‘I was busy that day. I did not blow up Nord Stream. Thank you though,’ Carlson joked.
Putin said, ‘You personally may have an alibi, but the CIA has no such alibi.’
Carlson then asked if he had any evidence that NATO or the CIA was responsible for the attack, but Putin refused to provide any.
‘You know, I won’t get into details, but people always say in such cases, look for someone who is interested,’ said Putin.
Putin was unequivocal in laying the blame squarely on the shoulders of the CIA for the explosions of the Nord Stream Pipeline
‘But in this case, we should not only look for someone who is interested, but also for someone who has capabilities, because there may be many people interested, but not all of them are capable of sinking to the bottom of the Baltic Sea and carrying out this explosion.’
‘These two components should be connected. Who is interested and who is capable of doing it,’ the Russian president said.
Tucker pressed Putin, ‘If you had evidence and presumably given your security services or Intel services, you would that NATO, the US, CIA, the West did this, why wouldn’t you present it and win a propaganda victory?’
‘In the war of propaganda, it is very difficult to defeat the United States because the United States controls all the world’s media and many European media,’ Putin replied.
The United States government has staunchly denied claims of involvement in the attack on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines.
Suspicion has fallen most strongly on Ukraine, where officials had opposed the project for years claiming it would empower Russia by enabling it to sell more gas to Europe.