Vladimir Putin has suggested he is open to negotiating with the US over the war in Ukraine as he sat down with US journalist Tucker Carlson.

In the lengthy interview, which lasted more than two hours, the Russian leader told Carlson that he has “never refused negotiations” and would welcome efforts from Washington to discuss a peace agreement with Ukraine.

Putin has previously expressed a desire to negotiate after Russian forces suffered heavy losses in 2022 following Ukrainian counteroffensives.

However, Western officials have expressed concern at Putin’s demand that Ukraine not be included in Nato and to hold onto Ukrainian territory currently under the control of Russia.

Putin said: “We hear all the time, ‘Is Russia ready?’ Yes.

“We have not refused. It was them [the West] who publicly refused.”

Following the interview, GB News’ Nigel Farage suggested the West should be more open to negotiating with the Kremlin.

Farage said: “After what was said last night, [Russia is] not going to stop and they’re switching vast amounts of their industrial production in Russia towards defence, they will never give up on this.

“Now we can find much of what’s happening abhorrent, but the thing that shocked me all the way through has been the absolute reluctance of anyone to think, shouldn’t we at least be having some form of negotiations?”

However, former defence minister Tobias Ellwood, said Farage’s view was “dangerous, defeatist and unpatriotic”.

Ellwood continued: “It also fails to understand the bigger picture of where our world is heading.

“Other adversaries, particularly China, will take note of our inability to remain committed and will take full advantage.”