A Kremlin-friendly version of history

Russian soldiers marching toward Red Square to attend a dress rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, in May, 2023. In Russia, history has long become a propaganda tool used to advance the Kremlin’s political goals. — AP

EARLY February, during an interview with US conservative political commentator and writer Tucker Carlson, Vladimir Putin delved into Russian history in response to questions about his motivations for the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Spending over 20 minutes expounding on dates and names dating back to the ninth century, the 71-year-old Russian leader provided Carlson with a lecture that left him bewildered.