Putin derides Carlson for not asking any ‘sharp questions’

Russian President Vladimir Putin mocked Tucker Carlson this week over their recent interview in Moscow, saying the American journalist failed to ask “provocative questions.”

“To be honest, I thought that he would behave aggressively and ask so-called sharp questions,” Mr. Putin, 71, told a Russian state TV interviewer when asked about Mr. Carlson.

“I was ready for, and actually expected, a set of more provocative questions, looking forward to responding in kind,” the Kremlin strongman said.

The mainstream media in the U.S. ripped Mr. Carlson after the interview, saying he asked only softball questions and didn’t press Mr. Putin on sensitive issues like the historical context of Russia’s relationship with Ukraine. The Russian president echoed that sentiment.

“I was not just prepared for this, I wanted it, because it would give me the opportunity to respond in the same way,” he claimed of his expectations for a feisty exchange.

“Frankly, I did not get full satisfaction from this interview,” he said.

The Russian leader’s comments came after his first interview with a U.S. journalist in more than two years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Mr. Putin reflected on Mr. Carlson’s interviewing style during their sit-down, mentioning that Mr. Carlson exhibited unexpected patience, especially when listening to extensive discussions about history.

“He was more patient than typical Western journalists, allowing me to elaborate at length, particularly on historical matters,” Mr. Putin said.

Despite acknowledging that Mr. Carlson had a specific strategy for the interview, Mr. Putin was ambiguous about its overall impact.

“Whether his approach yielded meaningful results is something I cannot definitively say,” he said.

Still, he said about Western leaders: “If today, due to their own reasons, we are unable to conduct direct dialogue, then we should be grateful to Mr. Carlson for the fact that we can do this through him as an intermediary.”