Former U.S. Ambassador Accuses Russia of Holding WSJ Reporter Hostage to Pressure Ukraine Support

Kurt Volker, former U.S. ambassador to NATO, has made allegations that Russia is deliberately detaining Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich as a means of coercing the United States into reducing its support for Ukraine. Trump has claimed that Gershkovich will be released soon after the election, but his assertions have been contradicted by Russian officials.

Kurt Volker, who served as U.S. ambassador to NATO from 2017 to 2019, has accused Russia of holding Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich captive as a pressure tactic to compel the United States to withdraw its support for Ukraine.

Volker, appearing on "Fox News Live," outlined his belief that Russia's detention of Gershkovich is a calculated move aimed at undermining the United States' commitment to providing military and other assistance to Ukraine. He emphasized that Russia's actions were a clear violation of international law and an infringement on press freedom.

Former President Donald Trump has predicted that Gershkovich will be released by Russia soon after this year's presidential election. In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump asserted that Gershkovich will be freed "almost immediately" following the election, and that he would personally ensure the reporter's safe return.

Trump's claims, however, have been met with skepticism by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who stated that Putin had not been in contact with Trump regarding the matter.

Gershkovich has been held in Russia since March 2023, facing dubious espionage allegations that both the U.S. government and his employer have dismissed as baseless. He recently lost an appeal to end his pretrial detention and will remain behind bars until at least June.

President Joe Biden has repeatedly called for Gershkovich's release, and his administration has indicated that it is actively working to secure the return of both Gershkovich and imprisoned American Paul Whelan from Russia.

Trump has previously made similar statements regarding Gershkovich's release, claiming that he could achieve it more effectively than the Biden administration. However, he has not publicly advocated for Gershkovich's freedom on the grounds of the dubious spying charges.

International condemnation of Russia's detention of Gershkovich has been growing, with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) calling for his immediate release. The CPJ has denounced the charges against Gershkovich as "absurd" and has accused Russia of "using him as a pawn in its geopolitical games."

The detention of Evan Gershkovich has become a focal point of tensions between the United States and Russia, with Ukraine's ongoing conflict playing a significant role. Former U.S. ambassador Kurt Volker has accused Russia of exploiting Gershkovich's situation to pressure the United States into reducing its support for Ukraine. While Trump has predicted Gershkovich's release post-election, his claims have been met with skepticism, and Gershkovich remains in detention. President Biden and the international community continue to demand his release, condemning Russia's actions as a violation of press freedom and international law.