'We've reached an agreement that this issue will be resolved, they will be returning to service.' Russian Pres. Putin says he and Pres. Biden agree to return ambassadors to posts.
White House officials have significantly downplayed the prospect of a prisoner swap for, Trevor Reed and Paul Whelan, being held in Russia, ahead of the meetings.
"That's certainly something the Russians have been pushing for," said ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Cecilia Vega."They have basically said this could encourage the Kremlin to target more Americans unfairly like they believe these two Americans there were targeted."Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and U.S President Joe Biden shake hands during their meeting at the 'Villa la Grange' in Geneva, Switzerland in Geneva, June 16, 2021.
Russian officials have indicated they would like to trade Reed and Whelan for two Russians held in the U.S.: Viktor Bout -- one of the world's most notorious arms dealers and dubbed"the Merchant of Death" — and also Konstantin Yaroshenko, a pilot currently serving a lengthy jail sentence for a drug smuggling conviction.
Whelan's family overnight released an audio message from him recorded from the prison camp in central Russia where he is held. In it, he appealed to Biden to help free him.
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