Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed that the only thing to lament is that Russia did not begin military operations in Ukraine sooner.

Putin recalled the Minsk Accords, as well as the confession by the then-German Chancellor and French President that they did not plan to carry them out, but rather to buy time.

Putin told Rossiya 1 reporter Pavel Zarubin that "The only thing we can regret is that we did not start our active actions [in Ukraine] earlier, believing that we were dealing with decent people."

Putin stated that former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's trip to Ukraine in 2022 was funded by the US government, as he was unable to visit the country without first informing Washington when he encouraged Kiev to refrain from holding negotiations with Moscow.

"Former Prime Minister Mr. Johnson could not have traveled [to Ukraine] on his own personal initiative without consulting Washington on the matter. Probably, not only were there such consultations, but I think he simply went on the business trip at the expense of the US administration. They paid him travel expenses for this."

When asked who is better for Russia among possible future US leaders — incumbent President Joe Biden or former President Donald Trump — Putin said Biden as he is "more experienced" and "more predictable," and he is "a strong politician."

However, the Russian president stated in the interview, "We will cooperate with any US leader who is trusted by the American people."

Putin did not fully enjoy Carlson interview

Putin revealed that he did not completely enjoy his interview with US journalist Tucker Carlson because the journalist rigidly adhered to his own agenda for the interview.

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Putin stated that he intended Carlson to "behave aggressively" and ask explosive questions, to which the Russian president was prepared to answer equally strongly, but Carlson "followed his plan and fulfilled it."

"I did not fully enjoy this interview," the Russian president told Zarubin, adding that it was a good thing Carlson allowed the West to "watch and listen to what I say."

Putin expressed he was grateful to Carlson since it was so difficult to have "direct dialogue" with the West.

"If today, for some reason related to them [the West], we are unable to conduct a direct dialogue, then we should be grateful to Mr. Carlson for the fact that we can do this through him as an intermediary," Putin said.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov revealed earlier that Carlson did not plan his questions for an interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin in advance.

Tucker Carlson speaks of Putin interview at summit in Dubai

At the World Government Summit in Dubai, US journalist Tucker Carlson spoke with TV presenter Emad Eldin Adeeb about his two-hour interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

The US journalist and former Fox TV host answered why certain topics were not discussed during the interview, how the US establishment reacted to it, and why the US continues failing to understand Russia.

Carlson argued that the aim of the interview was his interest in how Putin saw the world.

However, he claimed as well that he conducted an off-the-record conversation with Putin after their interview, but refused to reveal what was said.

According to Carlson, Putin seemed willing to launch negotiations with the West to end the war in Ukraine and discuss a new balance of world power, because diplomacy is the art of compromise, and noted that almost everyone “other than maybe the United States during the unipolar period” knows this.

When he was finally asked to reply to Hillary Clinton calling him “useful idiot” for Russia, Carlson laughed and said “She’s a child, I don’t listen to her,” he said. “How’s Libya doing?”