The Kremlin declined to comment on the possibility of a prisoner exchange with the United States, reiterating its stance that such matters are best resolved privately without public discussion.
The US is seeking to secure the release of Paul Whelan, a former Marine, and Evan Gershkovich, a reporter, who are imprisoned in Russia on espionage charges.
When asked about preparations for a swap, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov cited President Vladimir Putin’s recent comment that prisoner exchanges are best handled discreetly, saying these issues can only be resolved through silent negotiations.
“I want to recall the words of President Putin in his recent interview that these matters love silence, and they can only be resolved in silence,” Peskov said.
“Therefore, in our interests, in the interests of the American side, in the interests of those involved, it is better that this is all decided in silence.”
Putin had previously signaled Russia may be open to releasing Gershkovich if Germany freed a Russian man convicted of murdering a Chechen dissident in Berlin.
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