For him, Trump claims that Putin will release American journalist Gershkovich from prison

On social media, Donald Trump declared he would leverage his connections with Russian President Vladimir Putin to secure the release of Wall Street Journal writer Evan Gershkovich from a Russian prison.

On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump stated that this will occur shortly after the US election in November, when he hopes to unseat President Joe Biden and win back the White House.

“The Wall Street Journal reporter, Evan Gershkovich, who is detained by Russia, will be freed nearly soon following the election, but most definitely before I take office. “He’ll be with his family, at home, and safe,” Trump declared.

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

Trump made no mention of his interactions with Putin or the reasons behind his belief that the Russian president would free Gershkovich.

When asked whether the previous Republican president or his advisors had communicated with any Russian officials, a campaign spokeswoman did not respond right away.

In response to questions over the remarks, Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the Kremlin, stated that Putin “naturally has not had contacts with Donald Trump”.

In March of last year, Gershkovich was detained in Russia on suspicion of spying, an accusation he, his paper, and the Biden administration have all vehemently refuted. Without a trial date scheduled, he has been detained in a Moscow prison for well over a year.

In February, Putin stated that he might be let free in return for the release of a Russian prisoner who was convicted of murder in Germany.

Peskov restated earlier remarks from the Kremlin that any negotiations with Washington about a prisoner swap must take place “in total silence and absolute discretion.” They can only function in this manner.

Throughout his presidency from 2017 until 2021, Trump showed adoration for Putin. In 2018, he disregarded the conclusions of his own intelligence services and provoked outrage at home by refusing to hold the Russian leader accountable for intervening in the 2016 U.S. election.

In addition, Trump asserted that he could put an end to the conflict in Ukraine in less than a day after taking office again, though he did not specify how.