US confirms talks with Russia about prisoner exchange for Evan Gershkovich, but tempers expectations.

The United States confirmed Friday that it was in talks with Russia over a possible prisoner exchange for Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, but warned that talks have not yet produced a “clear path to a solution.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitri S. Peskov said this week that the two countries were in contact over the possibility of an exchange. President Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, confirmed the Kremlin’s comments on Friday, but said he didn’t want to give “false hope.”

“There have been discussions, but those discussions have not provided a clear path to a solution,” Mr Sullivan told reporters, adding that the US had no “clear answer” on how they would release Mr Gershkovich.

“All I can do,” he said, “is to tell you that we have a clear commitment and conviction that we will do everything possible to bring him home.”

Mr. Sullivan had met with members of Mr. Gershkovich’s family and Wall Street Journal associates to mark the 100 days since Mr. Gershkovich, 31, was detained while on a reporting trip in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg. Mr. Gershkovich is being held in Lefortovo, a notoriously harsh, high-security prison. He could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of what the US government, The Journal and press freedom groups believe are false charges of espionage.

“The world knows that the charges against Evan are baseless,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Friday.

The United States considers both Mr Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, a former Marine serving a 16-year prison sentence in Russia on espionage charges, to have been “unjustly detained” by Russia, a designation equivalent to a political hostage.

“Our message to Evan and Paul is this: keep believing. We won’t stop until you get home,’ Mrs Jean-Pierre said.

In a brief statement on Friday, the family of Mr. Gershkovich said the support from around the world was “overwhelming”.

“Every day that Evan is not home is another day too many,” the family said.