The Kremlin remains silent on the potential prisoner exchange involving Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was convicted of spying in Russia last year. Signs of an exchange deal have emerged, with reports of a plane landing in Kaliningrad. This would mark the first exchange between Russia and the West since the swap of US basketball player Brittney Griner for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in 2022.
The potential exchange would involve high-profile prisoners, including Vadim Krasikov, imprisoned in Germany for assassination. US President Joe Biden stands to benefit from this exchange, with hopes of securing the release of journalist Paul Whelan, accused of espionage in Russia alongside Gershkovich.