Putin riled Tucker at the start.
At the beginning of the interview, Carlson asserted that Putin "had come to the conclusion that the United States, through NATO, might initiate a 'surprise attack'" on Russia.
"To American ears, that sounds paranoid," Carlson continued. "Tell us why you believe the United States might strike Russia out of the blue. How did you conclude that?"
"It's not that America, the United States was going to launch a surprise strike on Russia," Putin responded. "I didn't say that. Are we having a talk show or a serious conversation?"
Carlson reacted by laughing and offering to read the Russian president his own quote. Putin ignored him and instead began an extended explanation of the "historical background" of Russia and Ukraine, before arguing that Moscow was justified in claiming parts of Ukrainian territory.
