Filmmaker Oliver Stone on Sunday told CNN he thinks the U.S. has demonized Russia, "to a place where it's almost impossible to talk," and that President Donald Trump has been "boxed in" by the Russia investigation.
"It's a shame because we need to talk," Stone told CNN's "Reliable Sources.K"
Stone spent the last two years interviewing Putin for his Showtime series, "The Putin Interviews," which aired last Monday.
"He agreed to do a set of interviews that we did over two years. I did maybe 25 to 30 hours of film with him… I challenged him and I teased him and I angered him, I hit every note I could," Stone said.
In the interview with Putin, Stone said the Russian president "states clearly what Russia's interests are. The respect for sovereignty of Russia is crucial."
The director has been criticized for his gentle questioning of the Russian leader, including some who said he’s produced propaganda for Putin.
Stone has dismissed that claim.
"My mom used to say you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar," he told "CBS This Morning" last Monday. "My camera was on him for around 20 hours over four visits. There's a certain behavior. It's in the eyes. It's in the body language. You see it. You be the judge."
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.