Following a consular visit to Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, the Kremlin addressed the possibility of a prisoner exchange with the United States. Gershkovich has been detained at Lefortovo Prison since March on espionage charges, which the U.S. considers baseless.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed discussions between Russian and U.S. officials regarding a potential swap, emphasizing the need for discretion. While he acknowledged the ongoing dialogue, Peskov stressed the importance of maintaining confidentiality, stating that such matters "must be carried out and continue in complete silence." He underscored the commitment to ensuring both sides' "lawful right to consular contacts."

U.S. Ambassador to Russia Lynne M. Tracy recently met with Gershkovich, reporting that he remains in good health and resilient. The U.S. Embassy expressed hope for continued regular consular access.

Gershkovich's detention has drawn significant attention, with the U.S. classifying him as wrongfully detained, alongside Paul Whelan, a U.S. Marine veteran imprisoned in Russia since 2020. David Whelan, Paul's brother, recently spoke about the challenging conditions of his brother's imprisonment and his hope for an eventual return to freedom.

This situation follows the high-profile prisoner exchange in December 2022, where WNBA star Brittney Griner was released in return for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. Gershkovich's case marks the first instance of an American reporter facing espionage charges in Russia since Nicholas Daniloff's arrest in 1986, which also resulted in a prisoner swap.

In a related development, Russian diplomats were granted consular access to Vladimir Dunaev, a Russian citizen detained in Ohio on cybercrime charges, marking their first contact since his 2021 arrest.