Deal possible for reporter Evan Gershkovich’s release – ‘with certain terms’

Russian leader’s comments came in interview with former Fox News star Tucker Carlson.

Russian President Vladimir Putin being interviewed by former Fox News host Tucker Carlson in Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he believes a deal is possible to free detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.

“There is no taboo to settle this issue. We are willing to solve it but there are certain terms being discussed via special services channels. I believe an agreement can be reached,” Mr Putin told US talk show host Tucker Carlson in a rare interview posted on Thursday.

Gershkovich was detained last March and is accused of spying, a charge he and his employer have vehemently rejected.

In a two-hour interview with the former Fox News host – coming just ahead of the two-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – Mr Putin also said that the West should understand it is “impossible” to defeat Russia in Ukraine.

It was the first one-on-one interview with Mr Putin by someone from the Western media since 2019.

However Carlson, who is close to White House candidate and former president Donald Trump, asked few tough questions and largely listened while the Kremlin leader lectured him on his views of Russian history, portraying the country as a victim of Western betrayals.

Mr Putin defended his decision to invade Ukraine in February 2022. And he said the West now realised that Russia would not be defeated, despite US, European and NATO help to Ukraine.

“Up until now, there has been the uproar and screaming about inflicting a strategic defeat to Russia on the battlefield,” he said.

“But now they are apparently coming to realise that it is difficult to achieve, if possible, at all. In my opinion, it is impossible by definition.”

Mr Putin also aimed a message at the US congress, where Trump-dominated Republicans are increasingly reluctant to keep backing Ukraine with weapons and other military aid.

“I will tell you what we are saying on this matter and what we are conveying to the US leadership. If you really want to stop fighting, you need to stop supplying weapons,” he said.

When asked if Moscow would consider invading other countries in the region – NATO members Poland and Latvia – or generally across the European continent, Mr Putin said that was “out of the question”.

“We have no interest in Poland, Latvia or anywhere else. Why would we do that? We simply don’t have any interest. It’s just threat mongering,” he said.

A war with Poland, he said, would happen “only in one case: if Poland attacks Russia”.

Asked about a possible change in leadership after the US election, where Joe Biden is expected to face off against Mr Trump in a rematch of their 2020 contest, Mr Putin indicated he would see little change. “You just asked me if another leader comes and changes something? It is not about the leader. It is not about the personality of a particular person,” he said.

AFP