The Kremlin has indicated that it is willing to explore the possibility of a prisoner exchange with the United States, possibly involving Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, but stressed that any discussions should remain private. Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for the Kremlin, confirmed that there have been contacts between Moscow and Washington on the matter but requested that they be conducted in secrecy. He emphasized the importance of ensuring consular rights on both sides. Further details were not provided. Meanwhile, Lynne Tracy, the U.S. Ambassador to Moscow, was recently permitted to visit Gershkovich for the first time since April, although no additional information was disclosed by the U.S. Embassy. Gershkovich, who has denied the espionage charges against him, was arrested in Yekaterinburg during a reporting trip and is currently being held in Moscow’s Lefortovo prison. His detention has raised concerns among journalists in Russia due to the lack of evidence supporting the allegations. Gershkovich is the first American journalist to face such charges in Russia since 1986. In a separate case, Russian citizen Vladimir Dunaev, who is detained in Ohio on cybercrime charges, received consular access from Russian diplomats for the first time since his arrest in 2021.