FOLLOW US

Sunday, for the first time in 3 years Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to a U.S.-owned news organization. In the exclusive Putin interview with NBC, a wide range of topics were discussed.

The interview took place just a few days ahead of Putin’s scheduled meeting with President Joe Biden in Geneva. And lasted about an hour and a half.

About Alexei Navalny

Putin claims he did not order the poisoning or imprisonment of  Alexei Navalny, his political adversary. But he wouldn’t guarantee the imprisoned critic of the Kremlin would survive in prison.

He says that is not his decision. "Look, such decisions in this country are not made by the president," Putin claimed.

Putin added that "He will not be treated any worse than anybody else."

Biden’s recent comment that Putin was a killer seemed to push Putin’s buttons. He was defiant when asked whether it was a "coincidence" that several other political rivals had been assassinated in recent years.

"We don't have this kind of habit, of assassinating anybody," Putin claims.

About Russia and U.S. relations

During the interview, the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized nations were meeting in Geneva. Russia was ousted from the summit in 2014 after it signed the annexation of  Crimea, Ukraine into law. 

In the Putin interview, the relationship between Russia and the U.S. was described as hitting a low point.

In April Biden Formally accused Russia of the SolarWinds ransomware attack. And blacklisted six Russian technology companies allegedly providing support to the Russian government-based cyber program.

The U.S. is also claiming that Russia is guilty of  "carrying out Russian government-directed attempts’ to impact both the 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns.

Putin laughed off the allegations that government-based Russian hackers were behind U.S.cyberattacks. He says the idea is "farcical," and challenges NBC News to produce evidence Russians are involved.

"We have been accused of all kinds of things," Putin said. "Election interference, cyberattacks, and so on and so forth. And not once, not once, not one time, did they bother to produce any kind of evidence or proof. Just unfounded accusations."

Putin also repeated his call for the U.S. and Russia to join forces to fight cybercrime, saying, "It is our great hope that we will be able to set up this process with our U.S. partners."

The ugly mirror defense

Putin maintains that criticism from the U.S. was hypocritical. And that all countries, including Russia and the U.S., act from self-interest.

"We have a saying: 'Don't be mad at the mirror if you are ugly,'" he said. "It has nothing to do with you personally. But if somebody blames us for something, what I say is, why don't you look at yourselves? You will see yourselves in the mirror, not us."

When asked about Biden criticizing Russia for adding to “global instability,” he says the U.S. is doing likewise. And pointed to Libya, Afghanistan, and Syria. Putin repeated that Russians aren't cracking down on internal dissent, he said, any more than the U.S. is doing.

He even talked about the arrests of suspects in the U.S. Capitol riot. And the death of protestor Ashli Babbit claiming it proves the U.S. also targets its citizens for differing political opinions.

Did Biden really tell Putin he has “no soul”?

More than once, Biden has told a story that when he was vice-president he told Putin to his face that he doesn't "have a soul." This was supposed to have taken place during a 2011 Kremlin visit.

"I do not remember this particular part of our conversations," Putin replied when asked about Biden’s characterization.

Asked what he thought of Biden, Putin said, "He has spent virtually his entire adulthood in politics," he said. He implies he can work with him.

When asked about the former president, "Mr. Trump is an extraordinary individual, talented individual. Otherwise, he would not have become U.S. president," Putin said. "He is a colorful individual."

About Weapon sale to Iran

Putin is completely denying a Washington Post report that Russia is offering Iran an advanced satellite system. The technology would enable Tehran to track military targets, including U.S. troops still remaining in Iraq.

"It's just fake news," Putin emphasized. "At the very least, I don't know anything about this kind of thing. Those who are speaking about it probably know more about it. It's just nonsense, garbage."

"I'm surprised that we have not yet been accused of provoking the Black Lives Matter movement," he said.

The ISS project

Putin also denied that Russia was planning to end its decades-long cooperation with the U.S. in the International Space Station project.

 Dmitry Rogozin, head of the Russian space agency, Roscosmos, has announced that leaving the ISS will allow Moscow to focus on launching its own station by 2030.

"I think you just misunderstood," Putin said. "We are interested in continuing work with the U.S. in this direction, and we will continue to do so if our U.S. partners don't refuse to do that."