Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Carlson met and talked with Putin, as did the former Fox News anchor himself in a post to social media platform X, explaining why he sat down with the head of Russia. EU officials are considering imposing a travel ban on Carlson, who they say is acting as a “mouthpiece” for Putin. “As Putin is a war criminal and the EU sanctions all who assist him in that effort, it seems logical that the External Action Service examine his case as well,” an unnamed EU official told Newsweek, who first broke the story. European leaders have been at odds with Russia for two years over Moscow’s kinetic confrontation with Ukraine over Kyiv's budding relationship with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Ukraine’s membership in NATO has always been a red line for the Kremlin. Three decades ago, Western leaders gave Russian officials repeated assurances that NATO would not expand its sphere of activity. Yet, despite decades of warnings from Russian officials, the U.S. and EU have forged ahead with bringing NATO military assets closer to Russia’s border. Ignoring any responsibility for the conflict, Western leaders now cast Putin as a despot and the sole reason for the war in Ukraine. Carlson’s interview, to be published on his own website and on X — free from government censors — could shatter the image of Putin the West has carefully crafted. "First of all, it should be remembered that Putin is not just a president of an aggressor country, but he is wanted by the International Criminal Court and accused of genocide and war crimes," MEP Urmas Paet, who previously served as Estonia's foreign minister, told Newsweek. "Carlson wants to give a platform to someone accused of crimes of genocide—this is wrong. If Putin has something to say he needs to say it in front of the ICC,” he said. “At the same time Carlson is not being a real journalist since he has clearly expressed his sympathy for the Russian regime and Putin and has constantly disparaged Ukraine, the victim of Russian aggression,” Paet added. “So, for such propaganda for a criminal regime, you can end up on the list of sanctions. This concerns primarily travel ban to EU countries." One diplomatic official told the publication that any sanctions would likely require proof that Carlson is linked directly to Moscow’s aggression, a claim that would be difficult to prove.Lawmakers in the European Union are weighing sanctioning news media heavyweight Tucker Carlson as a result of his forthcoming interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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