In a recent interview with US TV personality Tucker Carlson, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stark warning to the United States, threatening global conflict if American troops were deployed to Ukraine.
Putin urged the US to seek peace in the region, hinting at ongoing back-channel talks between Washington and Moscow.
The Russian President said: “If somebody has the desire to send regular troops, that would certainly bring humanity to the brink of a very serious global conflict.”
This comes as the first time Putin suggested the possibility of behind-the-scenes negotiations between the two superpowers.
Accusing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson of sabotaging a peace deal with Ukraine in 2022, Putin claimed that Johnson’s actions prolonged the conflict by 18 months.
The Russian leader alleged that a peace agreement was almost reached in Istanbul but was derailed by Johnson’s interference.
In response to Carlson’s question about Ukraine being a “satellite” for the West, Putin suggested that if negotiations failed, it was under Washington’s instruction.
He urged the US to reconsider its decisions and correct any mistakes made during the peace talks.
During the lengthy interview, Putin provided a historical account of Russian territory, attempting to justify his claims on Ukrainian land. When questioned by Carlson on the relevance of this historical account to the invasion, Putin responded: “Are we going to have a serious talk or a show?”
The Russian leader also clarified that he has no interest in expanding the war to Poland or Latvia, adding: “We simply don’t have any interest.”
He stressed that defeating Russia in Ukraine is “impossible” and called on NATO to accept Moscow’s territorial gains in the region.
