On Monday, Fox News invited Russian journalist Tikhon Dzyadko and Indiana Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz, who was born in Ukraine, to talk about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Dzyadko, the editor-in-chief of TV Rain, started by slamming President Donald Trump’s pro-Russia stance and calling Russian President Vladimir Putin an enemy of the civilized world.
“Looking at Mr. Trump’s actions, it makes me really sorry, because I think that it seems to me that Mr. Trump doesn’t actually understand that Putin is not his friend, and that Putin could not be a friend to the civilized world, and that it’s so important to call the things by their names,” Dzyadko said.
He continued, “And the name of Mr. Putin is dictator. He started a terrible war in Ukraine, and I think it’s very important for the United States and for its allies to do anything it could to help Ukraine not become part of this aggressive regime of Vladimir Putin. And now, when I’m looking at these talks by Mr. Trump and Mr. Zelensky in the White House. It makes me sad because it doesn’t make it look like peace is coming in this terrible war.”
At this point, Fox News host Will Cain stepped in to defend Trump and Putin. He argued that the discussion shouldn’t be focused on whether Trump sees Putin as a friend or a dictator, but rather on Trump’s push for peace.
“I want to bring in Congresswoman Spartz just one moment, who originally hails from Ukraine,” Cain said. “But I do have to push back for just one moment. Tikhon, I think that the conversation today moves beyond whether or not Donald Trump thinks Vladimir Putin is yet there, a friend or a dictator. It seems to me that what he’s pushing for is peace. And peace isn’t accomplished by getting hung up on who has honestly the moral high ground.”
Cain’s response seemed to echo Kremlin propaganda, reflecting yet another instance of Fox News aligning with Russia’s interests in the ongoing war.
Watch the clip below from Fox News:
unreal — Fox News brought in a journalist from Russia as part of a panel, but he's being too hard on Putin and Trump, so host Will Cain has to step in and toe the Kremlin/MAGA line pic.twitter.com/fTkX5x9Bpn
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 3, 2025
