WSJ, after Putin’s interview with Carlson, called for the release of Gershkovich. Last December, the head of the State Department press service, Matthew Miller, said that the United States would continue to discuss issues with Russia.

The director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergei Naryshkin, confirmed that Moscow and Washington are negotiating the return of Americans to their homeland. The Wall Street Journal released a statement saying it hopes for the imminent release of journalist Evan Gerskovich, convicted in Russia for espionage.