Mr. Putin characterized discussions with U.S. officials as "difficult"
Mr. Putin characterized discussions with U.S. officials concerning the detention of two Americans, Evan Gershkovich from The Wall Street Journal and Paul Whelan, a former Marine and corporate executive, as "difficult."
Mr. Putin has made his initial remarks regarding Russia's arrest of Evan Gershkovich, a correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, who has been held in pretrial detention in Moscow on espionage charges, which he, his employer, and the U.S. government strongly refute. Analysts suggest that Gershkovich's potential release hinges on a prisoner exchange involving the United States or another Western nation.
“We want to make a deal, but it should be mutually acceptable to both sides,” Mr. Putin said at the news conference, referring to Mr. Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, a former Marine and corporate executive. Mr. Whelan is serving a 16-year sentence in Russia on espionage charges that the United States has called politically motivated.
The Russian leader’s appearance came just hours after a Moscow court upheld the detention of Mr. Gershkovich with a ruling that will leave the journalist — who has been held for 260 days — in custody until at least the end of January. The State Department said last week that Russia had rejected a “substantial offer” that would have freed him and Mr. Whelan “It’s not that we’re refusing to return them; we didn’t refuse,” the Russian leader said, adding, “There is contact and dialogue with our American partners on this.” (Source: TheNewYorkTimes )
