Trump says Putin will free jailed U.S. reporter Gershkovich for him

trump says putin will free jailed u.s. reporter gershkovich for him

FILE PHOTO: Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is in custody on espionage charges, stands behind a glass wall of an enclosure for defendants as he attends a court hearing in Moscow, Russia, April 23, 2024. REUTERS/Tatyana Makeyeva/File Photo

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Donald Trump has posted on social media that he will use his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin to get Wall Street reporter Evan Gershkovich freed from a Russian prison.

Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social that this would happen soon after the November election in the United States, when he is seeking to defeat President Joe Biden and return to the White House.

"Evan Gershkovich, the Reporter from The Wall Street Journal, who is being held by Russia, will be released almost immediately after the Election, but definitely before I assume Office. He will be HOME, SAFE, AND WITH HIS FAMILY," Trump said.

"Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, will do that for me, but not for anyone else, and WE WILL BE PAYING NOTHING!"

Trump did not refer to any contacts with Putin or say what grounds he had to believe that the Russian leader would release Gershkovich.

A campaign spokesman did not immediately return a request for comment on whether the former Republican president or his advisers have been in touch with any Russian officials.

Asked about the comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin has "naturally not had contacts with Donald Trump".

Gershkovich was arrested in Russia in March last year on spying charges that he, his paper and the Biden administration have all strongly denied. He has spent well over a year in a Moscow prison, with no date set for a trial.

Putin said in February it might be possible to free him in exchange for a Russian imprisoned in Germany for murder.

Peskov reiterated previous Kremlin statements that contacts with Washington regarding any exchange of prisoners must be conducted "in complete silence and absolutely discreetly. This is the only way they can be effective".

During his 2017-2021 presidency, Trump expressed admiration for Putin. In 2018, he refused to blame the Russian leader for meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, casting doubt on the findings of his own intelligence agencies and sparking criticism at home.

Trump has also claimed he could end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of returning to the White House, though he has not said how he would do this.

(Reporting by Reuters, Doina Chiacu in Washington; writing by Mark Trevelyan and Alexander MarrowEditing by Gareth Jones)

OTHER NEWS

22 minutes ago

Former sub-postmaster slams 'buffoonery' of Ed Davey's stunt-laden election campaign as Lib-Dem leader faces questions over lack of help during Horizon scandal when he was a minister

22 minutes ago

John Farnham's newly married son Rob shares first photos of his music legend father following cancer surgery that saw 26 doctors reconstruct his jaw

22 minutes ago

Anne is praised as 'outstanding horsewoman' after Princess Royal managed to keep control of her horse during Trooping the Colour

22 minutes ago

Poland vs Netherlands - Euro 2024: Live score, team news and updates as Virgil Van Dijk aims to captain 1988 winners to victory in opening Group D clash

22 minutes ago

Video: Hippy-crack driver, 24, who killed cyclist, 56, as he inhaled laughing gas from a balloon while driving BMW with his knees is jailed - as horrific CCTV shows moment car knocks down nurse

22 minutes ago

Gloating masked Serbian thugs pose with 'stolen' England flags ahead of Three Lions clash - amid fears that mob of violent hooligans will spark chaos at the Euros

22 minutes ago

Video: 'Is my mother still alive?': Hostage Noa Argamani's first words revealed after she was rescued by Israeli special forces - as dramatic footage shows daring raid on Hamas compound

22 minutes ago

Video: Anne is praised as 'outstanding horsewoman' after Princess Royal managed to keep control of her horse during Trooping the Colour

22 minutes ago

Euro 2024: Man shot by Hamburg police after axe attack

22 minutes ago

German police shoot person armed with axe ahead of Euro 2024 game in Hamburg

22 minutes ago

Why has Ed Davey been throwing himself in the water to win the Lib Dems votes?

22 minutes ago

Kate shares touching new photo of William with George, Charlotte and Louis to mark Father’s Day

22 minutes ago

Grace Kim shoots 66 to take five-shot lead in Meijer LPGA Classic

22 minutes ago

NASCAR starting lineup for Iowa Speedway

22 minutes ago

Euro 2024: Serbia's superstar coach names the England star his side fear most

22 minutes ago

Tottenham scouts in attendance for €30m attacking talent primed to star at Euro 2024

22 minutes ago

New signs warning of great white sharks in the works for some East Coast beaches

22 minutes ago

Arsenal To Hold Talks With Declan Rice Over Position

22 minutes ago

Exclusive poll: Black voters aren't thrilled with Biden but dislike Trump more

22 minutes ago

How I dress for five days of Royal Ascot

22 minutes ago

Arsenal news: Edu faces transfer delay as Gunners name fee for midfielder star

22 minutes ago

Princess Charlotte's touching act during carriage ride to stop rain ruining Trooping parade

22 minutes ago

Gareth Southgate sends England stars message that leaves no doubt over Euro 2024 plans

30 minutes ago

PepsiCo announces plans to triple size of its electric fleet: 'Good for the planet, good for our business'

30 minutes ago

Elon Musk vs BJP's Rajeev Chandrashekhar on whether EVMs can be hacked

30 minutes ago

Euro 2024: Kylian Mbappé and France aim to start with a win over on-form Austria

30 minutes ago

I'm a female breadwinner who retired my husband. I was worried I'd resent him, but I'm a better leader and wife because of it.

30 minutes ago

Ukraine opens its Euro 2024 campaign against Romania amid backdrop of war back home

30 minutes ago

Poland vs. Netherlands Euro 2024 time, live stream, TV channel, lineups to watch Group D match in Australia

30 minutes ago

I'm nearly 90, worth more than £200 million and still starting new businesses. Here's how I did it - and my eight tips for getting rich

33 minutes ago

Woman shot by police in public park after allegedly wielding knife

33 minutes ago

Pennsylvania waste management facility collects millions of dollars worth of tossed out coins

33 minutes ago

Jon Bon Jovi teams up with *NSYNC star to open Nashville honky-tonk

33 minutes ago

Charcoal company gives away 50K free barbecues to Americans in food-insecure communities

34 minutes ago

Brian Cox rails against Brexit and Nigel Farage on BBC politics programme

34 minutes ago

Hamburg police shoot man near Euro 2024 fan park ‘threatening officers with pickaxe’

34 minutes ago

Nations discuss children, nuclear safety at talks on peace in Ukraine taking place without Russia

35 minutes ago

Ludvig Aberg career earnings: How much money has golfer made on PGA Tour?

35 minutes ago

US Open live updates: Leaderboard, Sunday tee times for final round at Pinehurst

35 minutes ago

SpaceX's Inspiration4 astronauts got genetically younger in space: study