Vladimir Putin Says He’s Hopeful for ‘Mutually Acceptable’ Agreement to Release Detained WSJ Reporter Evan Gershkovich

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said there is “ongoing dialogue” in the effort to release Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and that Russia wants to “reach an agreement” that will see him freed, according to multiple media reports.

At his revived annual end of the year press conference — Putin skipped the ritual last year as the war in Ukraine floundered — the leader was asked about Biden administration claims made last week that the Russian government rejected a “substantial” proposal for the release of Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine and Michigan corporate-security executive Paul Whelan, who was arrested in 2018.