Former President Trump said his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin will help free Evan Gershkovich, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal who has been detained in Russia for more than a year.
“Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter, who is being held by Russia, will be released almost immediately after the election, but definitely before I take office,” Trump said. he said in a post on Truth Social on Thursday morning. “He will be HOME, SAFE, AND WITH HIS FAMILY. Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, will do this for me, but not for anyone else, and WE PAY NOTHING!”
In response to Trump, the Kremlin told the Journal that “there is no contact between Putin and Trump on this matter.”
Trump previously said in an interview with Time magazine that he was not sure Gershkovich would be released while President Biden was in the White House.
“I think Biden handled Putin very badly. Putin should never have gone to Ukraine. And he didn’t stay with me for four years. I get along very well with Putin, but the reporter should be released and he will be released. I don’t know if he will be released under Biden,” Trump said, according to the Time transcript.
The former president also said he would try to free the Journal reporter if he returned to the White House.
“I’m surprised that Biden. Well, I’m not surprised at all with Biden. But I think it’s a terrible precedent. And I am very surprised that he has not been released, but I will release him if he is not released when we get into office,” he said.
While speaking at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner last month, Biden noted Gershkovich’s situation.
“Evan went to report in Russia to shed light on the darkness you all escaped years ago,” the president said. “To the entire family, everyone in this room is with you. We are working every day to secure his release, seeking opportunities and tools to bring him home. We keep the faith.”
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
