In an interview with the Russian television channel Russia Today last week, former Defense Minister Ehud Barak praised President Putin, saying that "he is one of the most open and normal leaders Russia has had in the last 500 years." He praised his handling of the issues of Iran and Syria, and implicitly criticized the United States' handling of the crisis in Ukraine.
Barak was interviewed last week by Oksana Boyko, a senior journalist from the Russian news channel RT, Vladimir Putin's propaganda mouthpiece. The interview took place in Kazakhstan, where the former defense minister is traveling on behalf of the consulting company he owns.
During the interview, Barak made statements that are hard to believe reflect his true opinion. For example, Barak criticized the Obama administration and complimented the Russian administration. He blamed Ukraine for the crisis that erupted with the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula.
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Barak also emphasized during the conversation Putin's good attitude towards Jews, saying that compared to previous leaders, Putin is "the most normal and open.".
