EU officials call to sanction journalist for interviewing Vladimir Putin

European Union officials are urging the bloc to issue a travel ban against journalist Tucker Carlson for interviewing Russia President Vladimir Putin this week.

“As Putin is a war criminal and the EU sanctions all who assist him in that effort, it seems logical that the External Action Service examine his case as well,” former Belgium Prime Minister MEP Guy Verhofstadt told Newsweek.

The European External Action Service (EEAS) is the EU’s “diplomatic service” and is responsible for implementing the EU’s security and foreign policies. If the EEAS were to determine Carlson should be added to the bloc’s sanctions list, the decision would be brought before the European Council for approval. If approved, Carlson would be banned from entering the EU.

MEP Urmas Paet from Estonia also called for sanctions against Carlson, who he said “is not being a real journalist.”

“Carlson wants to give a platform to someone accused of crimes of genocide — this is wrong. If Putin has something to say he needs to say it in front of the ICC. At the same time Carlson is not being a real journalist since he has clearly expressed his sympathy for the Russian regime and Putin and has constantly disparaged Ukraine, the victim of Russian aggression,” Paet told Ukrainian media, according to the Daily Wire. “So, for such propaganda for a criminal regime, you can end up on the list of sanctions. This concerns primarily a travel ban to E.U. countries.”

Carlson caused more than a stir Tuesday when he announced he was in Moscow to interview Putin. In a video posted to X, the former Fox News host slammed western media for refusing to report on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war, which is being heavily financed by American taxpayers.

“Americans have a right to know all they can about a war they’re implicated in,” Carlson said, noting that journalists have conducted many fawning interviews with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“Most Americans have no idea why Putin invaded Ukraine or what his goals are now,” he added. “They’ve never heard his voice. That’s wrong.”

Mainstream media operatives and political elites such as Hillary Clinton reacted to Carlson’s move by calling him a “useful idiot” who is “helping tyrants.”

Other journalists who have interviewed Putin include Barbara Walters and NBC News correspondent Keir Simmons.