Tucker Carlson interviews Vladimir Putin in Moscow

Tucker Carlson caught President Vladimir Putin off guard with a question during the controversial interview in Moscow.

Tucker Carlson has confronted Vladimir Putin over the imprisonment of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, imploring for his release.

The former Fox News host is the first Western journalist to be allowed access to the Russian strongman since he launched a brutal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

In the wide-ranging interview, Putin repeated his disproved claim that Ukraine is not a sovereign state as he tried to justify the invasion.

He also touched on the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage attack.

In the two hour-long interview, the Russian President began by launching into a 49 minute diatribe on the history of Eastern Europe — starting from the founding of Russia by Ryurik the Prince of Novgorod in 862AD.

Tucker Carlson interviews Vladimir Putin. Picture: Supplied

When Carlson tried to move the conversation forward, Putin berated him.

“I understand that my long speeches probably fall outside the genre of the interview. That is why I asked you at the beginning, are we going to have a serious talk or a show. You said serious talk, so bear with me please,” Putin said.

Putin’s history lesson was mocked online, with Max Seddon, the Moscow Bureau Chief of the Financial Times writing, “I think Putin may have over-estimated American audiences’ appetite to hear about Prince Ryurik and Yaroslav the Wise.”

When Putin finally addressed Russia’s war on Ukraine, he blamed Western nations for prolonging the conflict.

He claimed Russia had been on the verge of a peace with Ukraine but added that Ukraine “threw away all these agreements and obeyed the instructions of Western countries, European countries and the United States to fight Russia to the bitter end.”

I think Putin may have overestimated American audiences' appetite to hear about Prince Ryurik and Yaroslav the Wise pic.twitter.com/dGhUjLC2dj

— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 8, 2024

In a bold move, Carlson confronted Putin about detained American journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested for spying in what was widely seen as trumped up charges.

News Corp Australia, the owner of news.com.au, has publicly campaigned for his release.

“I just want to ask you directly, without getting into the details of your version of what happened, if as a sign of your decency, you be able to release him to us and we’ll bring him back to the United States,” Carlson said to Putin.

Putin seemed surprised by the question, sat silently in thought and sighed deeply before responding.

“We have done so many gestures of goodwill, out of decency, that I think we have ran out of them,” he said.

Vladimir Putin gestures to Tucker Carlson during the interview. Picture: Supplied

Putin added that he did not rule out releasing Mr Gershkovich, if “special services” reciprocated, likely alluding to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Carlson said Mr Gershkovich, “is obviously not a spy. He’s a kid. He’s not a super spy and everybody knows that.”

He said the journalist was being “held hostage”.

“It’s true and everyone knows it’s true,” he said, and speculated that Russia’s demand for reciprocation “degrades Russia”.

Putin responded by alleging that Mr Gershkovich had received classified information in secret and had been working for the US special services.

“I hope you let him out,” Carlson replied.

Putin also indicated that the CIA could be responsible for the Nord Stream pipeline explosions, which resulted in the largest single release of methane gas in history.

“Who blew up Nord Stream?” Carlson asked.

“You for sure,” Putin responded with a laugh.

“I was busy that day. I did not blow up Nord Stream,” Carlson said.

“You personally may have an alibi, but the CIA has no such alibi,” Putin responded.

During the interview, Putin claimed he talked to former US president Bill Clinton about Russia joining NATO, but was rebuffed.

The interview has sparked a raft of reactions online, and was viewed more than 20 million times within the first hour.

Chief foreign affairs commentator for the Financial Times Gideon Rachman wrote: “My initial conclusion is that Putin has gone mad and Carlson is a hopeless interviewer.”

Former chess world champion Garry Kasparov wrote: “It was propaganda and even worse, boring!

“The only question at this stage of Putin’s decline into bunkered delusion is if he really believes any of this crap. But even that is irrelevant in the end. He’s a war criminal who must be stopped from destroying Ukraine.”

Carlson’s decision to interview Putin was controversial, with Ukrainian MP Kira Rudik warning the Russian leader would “push propaganda”.

However, Carlson received praise from conservative voices on X (formerly Twitter), where the interview was posted.

Right-wing activist Charlie Kirk wrote: “Tucker’s interview with Putin is a masterclass. He was firm, tough, and clear. Well done Tucker.”

Originally published as Tucker Carlson interviews Vladimir Putin in Moscow