Putin's controversial views on Hitler's invasion of Poland revealed in interview with US journalist

Vladimir Putin's interview was given to Tucker Carlson, a US commentator known for his pro-Russian and pro-Putin views. The interview was recorded on Tuesday in Moscow and swiftly utilized for Kremlin propaganda, with a Russian version appearing on the Kremlin's websites on Thursday evening, immediately after its official release.

This marked Putin's first interview with a Western media representative since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In the course of the interview, which lasted in excess of two hours, Putin discussed a wide range of issues pertinent to Poland.

The journalist inquired whether Moscow had plans to invade "Poland, Latvia, or elsewhere." He asked if there was any possibility of dispatching Russian soldiers to these countries, potentially pitting them against NATO forces. "We're not interested in Poland," Putin declared.

Another provocative statement from the Russian president regarding Poland stirred significant controversy. He suggested that in 1939, the Poles had compelled Hitler to attack their country.

According to Putin, Hitler was simply striving to "realise his plans," but due to Poland's refusal to "cooperate", Hitler was "forced" to launch an attack, thereby instigating the Second World War.

Putin once again placed blame on Ukraine for the continuing conflict. He referred not only to the Minsk Agreement but also to the negotiations that have been ongoing since the war's inception, which, in his perspective, were nearing a successful conclusion.

Putin stressed that the perpetual mobilisation in Ukraine, coupled with hysteria and internal issues, will eventually result in an agreement.