Putin urges Washington to recognise Moscow’s interests in Ukraine

In a photo released by Sputnik news agency, Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures while speaking during an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson at the Kremlin (Gavriil Grigorov/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool Photo/AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged Washington to recognise Moscow’s interests and persuade Ukraine to sit down for talks.

In an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Mr Putin also said Russia stands ready to negotiate a potential prisoner exchange that would free Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was detained last March on espionage charges he denies, and hinted that Moscow wants the release of an agent imprisoned in Germany.