Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an interview broadcast on Sunday, said that “what is happening” in Ukraine is a “matter of life and death” for Russia, while for the West it is only about “improving (its position) tactics “. for AFP.

Vladimir Putin noted that it is “important” that both Russians and foreigners “understand our state of mind, understand how sensitive and important what is happening around Ukraine is for our country.”

“For (the West), it is about improving the tactical position. But for us it is our destiny, it is a matter of life and death,” he said, according to an excerpt of the interview published on social media by the journalist who interviewed him, Pavel Zarubin.

The Russian president referred to his recent interview with American radio host Tucker Carlson, who is very popular among conservatives.

This interview, the first that Vladimir Putin has given to a Western journalist since the beginning of the Russian offensive on Ukraine in February 2022, has been very well analyzed. It has been viewed over 200 million times on X (formerly Twitter).

In the message, which lasted more than two hours and was addressed to Americans and Europeans, Vladimir Putin assured them that Russia’s defeat in Ukraine was “impossible”, while saying that he was ready for “dialogue” with the West.