The White House is crafting a fresh proposal to Russia in its efforts to secure the release of two Americans, Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan.
US journalist Evan Gershkovich (Photo: AFP/File NATALIA KOLESNIKOV)
New Proposal After Russia Rejects Previous Bid
After Russia rejected a prior “substantial” proposal, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated, “We’re working hard to see what we can do to get another proposal that might be more successful.” Russian President Vladimir Putin, while expressing hope for a solution, emphasized the need for the U.S. to “make a decision that will suit the Russian Federation.”
The rejected proposal comes amid the imprisonment of Gershkovich, the first Western journalist accused of spying in Russia since the Soviet era.
Arrested during a reporting trip in Yekaterinburg, Gershkovich and his employer vehemently deny the espionage charges. Paul Whelan, arrested in Moscow in 2018, is serving a 16-year sentence for spying, a charge the U.S. government deems baseless.
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Whelan Voices Abandonment Concerns
In a recent interview with the BBC, Whelan accused the U.S. government of abandoning him, expressing grave concerns about his situation. Whelan previously reported being physically assaulted by a fellow prisoner in November. The U.S. State Department’s recent proposal faced rejection, prompting Kirby to note that the U.S. “did in recent days put forward a serious proposal” that Russia rebuffed.
The United States executed a prisoner swap with Venezuela on Wednesday, securing the return of 10 Americans in exchange for an ally of President Nicolas Maduro.
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