Moscow [Russia], December 15: Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at his major annual press conference on Thursday, confirmed his willingness to continue negotiations with Washington on the release of US citizens imprisoned in Russia for espionage.
"We want to reach an agreement," Putin said in Moscow. "These agreements must be acceptable to both sides." Contacts with the US side are ongoing, he added. "A dialogue is under way. It's not easy, but overall we speak a language that everyone understands." Putin made his comments in response to a question about the possible release of the imprisoned Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich, 32, and Paul Whelan, who was convicted of espionage.
Putin said he hoped that a decision could be reached on the basis of humanitarian considerations. In return, Moscow is demanding that the United States hand over Russian prisoners. In the past, Russia has been able to obtain the release of convicted criminals from US prisons.
At the beginning of the month, the US government announced that it had made Moscow a new offer to release Gershkovich and Whelan. However, the offer was rejected. Washington did not provide details.
On Thursday, a court in Moscow also confirmed Gershkovich's pre-trial detention, which was last extended until January 30. His pre-trial detention has been extended several times following his arrest in March.
The US is demanding the reporter's release, saying he has been falsely charged with spying for US agencies.
Many US media outlets subsequently withdrew their correspondents from Moscow due to fears of political persecution by the Russian state. Several Western journalists have now been invited to Putin's press conference again for the first time.
Soon after his arrest, the US State Department officially declared Gershkovich wrongfully detained by Russia, stating: "Journalism is not a crime. We condemn the Kremlin's continued repression of independent voices in Russia, and its ongoing war against the truth."
But the Biden administration's efforts to secure his release have not yet yielded results.
The White House offered to trade a large number of Russian nationals detained on espionage charges abroad in exchange for the release of Gershkovich and fellow American Paul Whelan, two people familiar with the matter told CNN last week, but the offer was not accepted.
Asked about that rejection, Putin confirmed that discussions are underway regarding the possible extradition of the jailed Americans.
Source: Qatar Tribune