Oliver Stone Says He Interviewed Vladimir Putin Four Times for His Doc

Oscar-winning director Oliver Stone wants his upcoming documentary on Russian President Vladimir Putin to “prevent continued misunderstanding and a dangerous situation — on the brink of war,” he said in an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald.

Stone said that the documentary, which so far is untitled, would be released soon, but provided no further details regarding a possible release date or distributor.

“It’s not a documentary as much as a question and answer session,” Stone also told the Australian newspaper. “Mr. Putin is one of the most important leaders in the world and in so far as the United States has declared him an enemy — a great enemy — I think it’s very important we hear what he has to say.”

According to Stone, the documentary, which was filmed over the course of four in-person interviews with Putin in the past two years, will help express Putin’s view of events since he was first elected Russia’s president back in 2000.

“[The documentary] opens up a whole viewpoint that we as Americans haven’t heard,” Stone said. Asked about his experience with Putin, he added: “He talks pretty straight.”

The film is expected to deal, among other issues, with NSA leaker Edward Snowden, who was granted political asylum in Russia, and claims that Russia interfered with the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Stone first unveiled plans for a documentary about Putin three years ago, but the Australian interview is the first official confirmation of the project since then.

Stone has often defended the Kremlin’s policies, including those in Ukraine. Last year, he produced Ukraina v ogne (Ukraine on Fire), a documentary that critics said presented a Kremlin-friendly version of the events of the 2014 Maidan revolution in Ukraine.

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