Putin Expresses Hope for Agreement on Release of Detained Americans

Moscow Court Rejects Appeal by WSJ Reporter Evan Gershkovich as Negotiations Continue

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed hope for a mutually acceptable agreement with the US for the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and US Marine veteran Paul Whelan, both currently detained in Russia on espionage charges.
Gershkovich, who was arrested in March while on a reporting trip in Yekaterinburg, has had his pretrial detention extended multiple times, most recently until January 30, 2024.
Whelan, arrested in 2018, was sentenced to 16 years in prison on espionage charges, which both he and the US government deny.
Putin's comments came as a Moscow court rejected Gershkovich's appeal against the extension of his pretrial detention.
The US State Department has said that Russia recently rejected a 'new and significant' proposal for the release of the two Americans.