ERIC ZUESSE -- Putin’s Latest TV Interview Addresses Concerns of People in The West

 

Putin’s Latest TV Interview Addresses Concerns of People in The West

 

Eric Zuesse – August 30, 2020

 

An interview of Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Russian television, on August 27th, discusses first the coronavirus, but then mainly international affairs, and especially concerns of the people in Western nations, most especially regarding what is now happening next door to Russia, in Belarus. The interviewer is VGTRK journalist and anchor of Vesti v Subbotu (News on Saturday) programme Sergei Brilyov. Here is the portion dealing with Belarus:

 

Sergei Brilyov: We have seen numerous reports on your telephone conversations with European leaders. But these reports are usually just scanty press releases from the Kremlin Press Service. In fact, you have not yet publicly shared your view of the situation in detail. What do you think of the developments in Belarus?

 

Vladimir Putin: You know, I think that we have shown much more restraint and neutrality with respect to the events in Belarus than many other countries, both European and American ones, such as the United States.

In my opinion, we have indeed been covering the developments in Belarus quite objectively, from every angle, showing both sides. We believe that it is up to the Belarusian society and people themselves to deal with this. Although, certainly, we care about what is happening there [since it’s on their border].