At a press conference, Putin expresses his desire to “discover a resolution” regarding American citizens Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow was in talks with the United States over detained Americans Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan
During his end-of-year press conference on Thursday, Putin expressed his desire to “discover a resolution” despite acknowledging that it is a challenging task.
stated that his remarks were made in response to the U.S. State Department’s statement last week, in which they stated that Russia had made similar comments recently.rejected
A recently proposed plan with significant implications has been put forward for the release of the two Americans. On Thursday, State Department representative Matthew Miller informed journalists that Washington has presented multiple options for consideration.
Miller stated that up to this point, they have observed a refusal from them to accept their proposals. They are hopeful that there will be a shift in the way they have managed this situation in the future.
President Putin is running for another six-year term in the upcoming March election in Russia.
have been charged with espionage
Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, both American citizens, have been arrested and accused of committing espionage.
Gershkovich, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, has been in custody in Russia since March. He was apprehended in Yekaterinburg and charged with spying. Both Gershkovich and the Wall Street Journal refute the accusations and the US has stated that he is being held unjustly.
A court in Moscow denied a fourth attempt to release Gershkovich from custody before his trial, meaning he will remain under arrest until January 30, 2024.
Whelan, an executive in corporate security, was imprisoned in Russia in 2018 for alleged espionage charges that are disputed by both him and the U.S. government.
According to U.S. Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy, the accusations against Evan and Paul have been repeatedly refuted by our government. We will persist in our efforts to secure Evan’s prompt release, as well as the release of any Americans wrongfully held abroad.
According to Putin, there was communication between Russia and the United States.
“It is not a simple matter, and I will not delve into specifics at this moment. However, overall, it appears that we are communicating in a language that each of us comprehends,” stated Putin. “I am optimistic that we can reach a resolution. But let me reiterate, the American side must listen to our concerns and come to a decision that also satisfies Russia.”
Alexander Kazakov/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
has been ongoing since 2014, with tensions rising between pro-Russian separatists and the Ukrainian government.
The conflict in Ukraine has been ongoing since 2014, as tensions have increased between pro-Russian separatists and the Ukrainian government.
2016 Kremlin
At the four-hour press conference, Putin also discussed the 2016 Russian government.war in Ukraine
According to the statement, Russia’s objective remains unchanged: the demilitarization and “denazification” of Ukraine, with the belief that they will ultimately achieve “victory.”Kremlin’s narrative
The war is focused on freeing the nation from Nazi control.
“I have confidence that we will emerge victorious,” stated Putin, asserting that Russian soldiers are “strengthening their position along nearly the entire line of contact.”
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the country has faced numerous sanctions from Western nations. Despite being isolated on the global stage, Putin stated that Russia remains ready to persist and does not require further mobilization of troops.
He stated that we have ample reason to be self-assured and make progress.
Ukraine’s counteroffensive
During the summer, there was little advancement in the conflict with Russia and backing from the West for Ukraine’s fight seems to be decreasing due to political disagreements in the United States and the European Union.
Reporting was provided by Caitlin Yilek.
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Source: cbsnews.com