Fox News’ Tucker Carlson admits ‘I’m rooting for Russia’

‘I’m sincerely confused. Why shouldn’t I root for Russia against Ukraine’ network TV host exclaims

Fox news host Tucker Carlson announced his is “rooting for Russia” in the country’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine during an erratic appearance on his show – only to backtrack on the claim some 45 minutes later in a statement to the camera.

Mr Carlson invited former Bill and Hillary Clinton adviser Richard Goodstein onto his show to discuss impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump – arguing over poll numbers and accusing Joe Biden’s son Hunter of “corruption” in an echo of unsubstantiated attack lines used by the president.

However after claiming it was Trump who was in the right for pointing to “open corruption” in the Bidens' dealings with Ukraine - a claim not evidenced by officials in Kiev or Washington - The Tucker Carlson Tonight host said he did not understand why he should care about the plight of eastern European nation's citizens facing off with Russian troops in their own country.

Discussing the stakes of withholding military aid from Ukraine - an area that has become the focus of impeachment proceedings against Mr Trump - Mr Goodstein said people “are dying on the frontlines” of the conflict between Kiev and Moscow – however he was quickly cut off by the host.

“Why do I care?” Mr Carlson exclaimed, “Why do I care what’s going on in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia? And I’m serious – why do I care. And why shouldn’t I root for Russia – which I am”.

He went on to chide the guest over his concern of Russian interference on the world stage – at one point shrieking the country’s name in apparent mock-horror while asking “why should I root for Ukraine against Russia? I’m sincerely confused. Why shouldn’t I root for Russia against Ukraine, or Latvia against Moldova – why should I care at all?”

However some 45 minutes later at the close of the show a more subdued Mr Carlson brushed off the comment as a joke in a statement to the camera.

“Earlier in the show I noted that I was rooting for Russia in the contest between Russia and Ukraine and of course I’m joking” he said. “I’m only rooting for America – mocking the obsession many on the left have.”

The conflict in Ukraine erupted out of unrest in the country in 2014 when the nation pulled away from Moscow and towards the west following the bloody Euromaidan protests.

The resulting revolution and conflict has seen Russian troops invade and annex the Crimean peninsula – a predominantly Russian-speaking region of southern Ukraine – as well as spurring on conflict in the east of the country. More than 10,000 people are believed to have been killed since Russia began its military intervention in 2014, with around a third of the death toll made up by civilians.

Since declaring independence in 1918 and 1992 respectively, Latvia and Moldova have never appeared on the opposing side of a conflict.