Was Putin’s response to my question about the war in Europe an olive branch?

Journalists ask questions of world leaders all the time.

No big deal. Correct?

But what is it like to ask questions of Vladimir Putin, the man who ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine? The leader whose country was accused this week by the head of MI6 of “exporting chaos”?

Imagine asking this question live on television while millions of Russians watch.

This is a big responsibility. You don’t want to mess up.

“My question is about the future of Russia. What kind of future do you plan for your country and your people?” I asked President Putin.

“Will the future be like now, with legal sanctions for public dissent against the official line? Will manhunts accelerate at home and abroad? Will mobile network blackouts become more common? Will new ‘special military operations’ emerge?”

Vladimir Putin was taking notes as I spoke. Then reply.

He defended Russia’s repressive foreign agents law. Hundreds of Russians who criticize the regime have been designated as “foreign agents.”

“We didn’t invent it,” Putin told me.

“This (foreign agent) law was adopted by a range of Western countries, including the United States in the 1930s. All of these laws, including the U.S. law, were much harsher…”

In fact, Russian laws are very strict. It excludes “foreign agents” from many aspects of public life, including teaching, civil service, elections and public events. It imposes financial and property restrictions. Criminal proceedings can be initiated after an administrative fine.

However, I cannot point this out to President Putin. After I asked the question, the microphone was taken away.

Suddenly the host intervened and changed the topic.

“Here’s another question: ‘What will happen to the BBC, which is facing a multibillion-dollar lawsuit from the president of the United States?'” anchor Pavel Zarubin said.

“I think President Trump is right,” President Putin confirmed.

The Kremlin and the White House agreed on the BBC program.

Putin returned to my question.

“Will there be new special military operations? Not if you respect us and respect our interests, as we have been trying to do to you. Unless you deceive us, as you did with NATO expansion.”

Everyone can see what drives Vladimir Putin – a deep-seated resentment of the West.

He believes that Western leaders have disrespected, deceived and lied to Russia for years, and they still lie that Moscow intends to attack Europe. “What rubbish is that?” the Kremlin leader declared.

But many European leaders simply don’t trust Moscow.

Before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian officials denied they had plans for a large-scale attack.

Recently, Russia has been accused of violating European airspace with fighter jets and drones, as well as conducting cyber attacks and sabotage.

But when he finished answering my question, was this an olive branch from the Russian president to Europe?

“As long as Russia’s medium- and long-term security is guaranteed, we are ready to cease hostilities immediately, and we are ready to cooperate with you.”

However, European leaders will remain skeptical if Moscow continues to link its long-term security to its top demands on Ukraine.