In an exclusive interview with RT, ex-Russian prisoner Viktor Bout explained that if he had the ability, he would have volunteered in the offensive against Ukraine, which he “fully supports”.
Just arrived on Russian soil, the “merchant of death” Viktor Bout “fully” supported Russia’s attack on Ukraine. In an interview given exclusively to the Russian media Russia Today on Saturday December 10, the former Soviet army officer even believes that the offensive should have happened earlier.
“If I had the opportunity and the necessary skills, I would volunteer,” he said. “To tell you frankly, I didn’t understand why we didn’t do it sooner. In 2014, if I had had the chance, I would have volunteered.”
At 55, Viktor Bout was released on Thursday followinga prisoner exchange with American basketball player Brittney Griner. He was therefore very grateful to Vladimir Putin.
In his interview this Saturday, the ex-prisoner notably claimed to have had a portrait of the head of state in his cell. “Yes, always. Why not? I’m proud to be Russian and that our president is Putin.”
Bout denies any links with the Taliban
After being arrested in 2008 in Thailand, the Russian arms dealer was sentenced in the United States to 25 years in prison for conspiracy to murder several Americans, the acquisition and export of anti-aircraft missiles as well as the contribution materials to a terrorist organization.
Viktor Bout presented himself as a businessman whose activities were completely legal. According to him, his conviction served as an “example” to force other Russians to accept agreements with Washington, which he himself had refused to do.
The arms dealer also denied having given weapons to Afghanistan as well as any connections with the Taliban: “The Taliban had put a price on my head. So how can I say that I collaborated with them? of meaning”.
Original article published on BFMTV.com
VIDEO – According to Vladimir Putin, the exchange of prisoners was “an American initiative”