Reporters ask world leaders questions all the time. No big deal. Right?
But what's it like putting a question to Vladimir Putin - the president who ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine? Imagine asking that question live on TV while millions of Russians watch. It's a big responsibility. You don't want to mess up.
My question is about Russia's future. What kind of future are you planning for your country and your people? I asked President Putin.
Will the future be like the present, with any public objection to the official line punishable by law? Will the hunt for enemies at home and abroad be accelerated? Will mobile internet outages become even more common? Will there be new 'special military operations'?
While I'm speaking, Vladimir Putin is making notes. He defends Russia's repressive foreign agent law, claiming it was adopted following examples in multiple Western countries.
In reality, the Russian law is draconian, restricting the rights of designated foreign agents in public life. Unfortunately, I was unable to articulate this point to Putin since the microphone was taken away after my question.
As the conversation shifted, the moderator posed another question about the BBC, prompting Putin to agree with criticism aimed at the broadcaster concerning ongoing legal pressures.
Yet, upon returning to my original inquiry, Putin stated, Will there be new special military operations? There won't be, if you treat us with respect and respect our interests, just as we've always tried to do with you. Unless you cheat us, like you did with NATO's eastward expansion. His resentment toward the West was palpable.
Despite this rhetoric, he offered a conditional promise of cessation of hostilities: We're ready to cease hostilities immediately provided that Russia's medium- and long-term security is ensured, and we are ready to co-operate with you. This leaves European leaders in a dilemma: Can they trust that Moscow's demand for security will not cloud the future of the continent?
