Thread by @DarrenJBeattie

The @FT interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin is 90 minutes long. Curiously, the longest available video with English dubbing is only 20 minutes long---and FT's own write-up of the interview does not link to the English transcript.

Highlights below in thread:

Here is the @FT write-up that strangely does not link to FT's own English transcript of the interview

ft.com/content/670039…

Here is the transcript:

ft.com/content/878d23…

Putin is asked about election meddling and the Mueller report. Putin denies meddling and suggests radical thesis that Trump won not due to facebook posts, but because US elites have failed and Trump responded to this failure:

Part I of answer:

Part II of answer:

Here is Putin on Trump and globalization:

Putin on Syria---"Primarily, we have managed to preserve Syrian statehood and we have prevented Libya style chaos there"

Putin subtly compares collapse of the Soviet Union with the current condition of the liberal West:

"What is happening in the West? The elites have broken away from the people. The obvious problem is the gap btwn interests of elites and overwhelming majority of people"

Putin remarks on immigration and the multicultural regime in the liberal West--

"When the migrant problem came to a head, many people admitted that the policy of multiculturalism is not effective...what about the interests of their own [the West] population?

Putin on the failure of the "liberal idea"

Putin asked about Steve Bannon and the liberal idea

Putin on the the liberal idea and migrants

"The migrants can kill, plunder and rape w/ impunity b/c their rights as migrants must be protected. What rights are these? Every crime must have its punishment. The liberal idea is obsolete. It conflicts w majority of population

Putin on the liberal idea and gender roles:

"They claim now that children can play five or six gender roles. I can't even say what these genders are--I have no notion... But this must not overshadow culture, tradition, and family values of the core population

Putin on the liberal idea and religion:

Putin reveals his favorite leader in world history---Peter the Great