Russian President Vladimir Putin has shut down suggestions of striking a deal with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, as he sat down for his first interview since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Almost two years to the day since the war in Ukraine began, Putin sat down with American TV presenter Tucker Carlson for a two-hour bombshell interview.
The 71-year-old was questioned by Carlson on his decision to invade Ukraine and stated he has "never refused" to negotiate a peace deal with Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelensky.
He claimed the war could be over "in a matter of a few weeks" if the US stops supplying weapons to Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin has revealed if he made a deal with Hungary's Viktor Orban over Ukrainian land
Tucker Carlson Network on X
Putin also spoke at length about the history of Russia and Eastern Europe before the conflict began in Ukraine.
He told the former Fox News host that Ukraine defeating Russia is "impossible by definition", but confirmed he does not seek to expand the war into neighbouring countries such as Poland or Latvia.
Tucker Carlson then pressed Putin on a reported deal between him and Hungarian PM Viktor Orban, in which he had offered the re-annexation of Transcarpathia to Hungary.
Former economy minister for Slovakia, Karel Hirman, claimed that Putin and Orban "share a common strategic goal" to move their countries’ borders to "eliminate the losses they have experienced" after the turbulent events of the 20th century.
Victor Orban was claimed to be involved in a secret deal with Putin to re-annex part of Ukraine back to Hungary
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Former ambassador of Slovakia to Hungary, Rastislav Kácer, went as far as suggesting that there is a "deal between Putin and Orban to invade Slovakia" after Ukraine.
When asked by Carlson if the deal was true, Putin denied the claim, stating they had "not even had any conversation on that".
Putin told Carlson: "Never, I have never told him, not a single time.
"But I actually know for sure that Hungarians who live there want to get back to their historical land."
Vladimir Putin says he has 'never had a conversation with Orban' about re-annexing part of Ukraine
Tucker Carlson Network on X
In another part of the two-hour sit down, Putin went on to criticise NATO amid plans for Ukraine to become a member of the group.
Putin claimed he and NATO had "never agreed" to an expansion where Ukraine would become a member.
Putin told Carlson: "The current Ukraine leadership said it would not implement the current Minsk agreements where a plan for the peaceful settlement in Donbas was set forth.
"Ukraine officials said they did not like anything about the Minsk agreements, in other words, they were not going to implement it."
