Tucker and Vladimir’s history lesson

Ancient enemies with a common heritage

“ Any fish is good if it is on the hook.” Russian proverb

During his February 6, 2024, interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin, posted online February 8, Tucker Carlson was blindsided by the lengthy history lesson offered by Mr. Putin in response to his first question about why Russia had invaded Ukraine. Mr. Carlson was still talking about it in an Instagram post 24 hours later on his way out of Moscow.

Screenshot of Tucker Carlson interview with Vladimir Putin

Putin averred that in order to discuss the Ukraine war intelligently, he first needed to digress for “30 seconds or maybe one minute” to explain the history of Ukraine’s emergence as a nation. A 30 minute dissertation on ancient Russian and Eastern Orthodox history followed.

Not being accustomed to politicians who understand history, let alone take it seriously, Carlson and his production team thought this was a delaying tactic to avoid difficult questions about the invasion. They ultimately concluded that Putin was sincere in his historically based belief that Ukraine is part of Russia and advised viewers to see the lengthy digression in that light even if they disagreed.

Putin’s historical pedagogy, labeled a “diatribe” by the New York Times and other Western news outlets, may have been self-serving, but it is nonetheless more important than perhaps even he believes. Rather than trying to rebut or dissect his version of history, what is most important is to expand the context.