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He drank wine with Putin. Then the president said something that might explain why heHe drank wine with Putin. Then the president said something that might explain why he invaded Ukraine. 18.03.2023 07:03 MOSCOW (Aftenposten): The Russian editor Aleksej Venediktov is best friends with some of Putin's closest associates. He has several times drunk wine with the president himself. Now he lifts the veil. Aleksej Venediktov was the editor of the liberal radio station Moscow's Ekko for a quarter of a century. He has close contact with the top in the Kremlin and in the government. Photo: Per Kristian Aale Play the case • 8 minutes Newsletter: The war in Ukraine Get exclusive analyzes and reports about Ukraine straight to your inbox. In 2008, Russia invaded neighboring Georgia. The Russians waltzed over the Georgians within days. Soon after, Aleksej Venediktov was in the Kremlin with several Russian editors. Venediktov was the head of the liberal radio station Moscow's Ekko. Putin briefed on the war. After the meeting, Putin wanted to speak with Venediktov alone. For an hour and a half they drank wine and talked about everything. Then the Russian president said something that may help explain why many years later he started a major war against Ukraine. Putin was furious Today, Putin is unlikely to drink wine with Venediktov late at night. A year ago, the president sent large forces into Ukraine. - Russia has lost, thundered Venediktov in his characteristic bass voice. He said that just a couple of hours after the invasion started. This will have disastrous consequences for Russia. Even if Kyiv is taken, the consequences "for Russia, for the Russians, for my sons, will be catastrophic," Venediktov told millions of listeners. - Putin was so furious that he lashed out. My friends in the Kremlin told me that, says Venediktov to Aftenposten. Soon after, the radio station was closed. In April, he was declared a foreign agent. Venediktov started a YouTube channel called Zjivoj Gvozd (The Living Nail). Putin has closed or blocked all independent media, but he has so far left Youtube alone. Some of Venediktov's powerful friends cut off contact with him, but he still meets most of them regularly. Therefore, the editor can tell more stories about the elite. And about Putin. Such as when he drank wine with him in 2008. Putin's propagandist Margarita Simonjan has been one of Venediktov's best friends. She is head of the media empire RT. Every day she sits on TV and says that Russia "must bomb more". A few months ago, Venediktov met her in a restaurant. - Margarita, you are also a mother. Look at all the children killed in Ukraine, he said, showing her pictures from the war. Then she looked blank, he says. The Ukrainians had killed them themselves, she said. After that, Venediktov broke off contact with her. - She really believes in it. I can't meet her anymore, he says. Aftenposten has been asking Simonjan for a comment for a long time, but has not received a reply. Venediktov calls them cannibals. It is the Russians who want to strike even harder in Ukraine. Bomb even more. - How do you talk to such people? I don't get anything out of it. The majority of the Russian elite, however, believe that nothing good will come of the war. - No, I don't know anyone who thinks so. Russia is going to be much worse off no matter what happens. Everyone gets it. They are not idiots, he says. Aleksej Venediktov looks at the latest edition of the historical journal Diletant. In the foreground stands producer What will be Russia's bill? Even more discontent from Putin Moscow's Ekko had millions of listeners. Now hundreds of thousands watch Venediktov every day. He has brought ten journalists with him. They live in a disused vodka factory on the outskirts of Moscow. It is a worn building from the 19th century. Youtube has turned off the possibility of making money from advertising in Russia. Therefore, they run a publishing house to get rubles for wages. In addition, they publish a historical journal called Diletant. Last summer, Putin said that Tsar Peter the Great recaptured Russian lands, and that he himself is now doing the same. Before Christmas, Diletant came out with a special issue which was about what the Tsar actually did at the beginning of the 18th century. - We sent that edition to Putin, and I heard from my friends that he actually read it. He certainly wasn't happy. Putin talks about history all the time. He must also have become increasingly concerned with his own role in it. When he meets historians, he often asks what will be written about him in the history books. The local media have regularly reported on this. It was also a topic when Venediktov drank wine with him in 2008. What did Putin say? Russia waged war on Georgia in August 2008. Venediktov met Putin the following month. - Now I have been president for two terms. You were a history teacher. What will be written about me in the history books in the future? - I don't know, but maybe they will write something about you uniting the Russian church in Russia and abroad. - Is that all? asked Putin, who was clearly disappointed, according to Venediktov. In February 2014, Putin sent soldiers into Crimea. Subsequently, Russia annexed the Ukrainian peninsula. In April of that year, Venediktov met Putin. He reproduces the conversation as follows: - And now? Putin asked. - What do you mean? - What will the historians write about me now? - Now they will probably write about you and Krym. - Yes exactly! Putin said and left. |
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