Trump Claims He Can Secure Release of Jailed US Journalist from Russia 'Almost Immediately.' The Kremlin’s Response Casts Doubt.

Donald Trump claimed that if elected president, he could secure the release of jailed US journalist Evan Gershkovich from Russia "almost immediately." The Republican candidate said Russian President Vladimir Putin "will do that for me, but not for anyone else." The Kremlin denied having any contact with Trump regarding Gershkovich's case. A Kremlin spokesman said prisoner exchange discussions must be conducted secretly to be effective. Gershkovich has been jailed in Russia for over a year on espionage charges after reporting in Moscow. He is the first Western journalist imprisoned in Russia since the Soviet era.