The Latest Breaking News from Paul Whelan

American detainee Paul Whelan phoned his family from Russia early on Friday in his first contact since last week, a period of silence that prompted the White House to express concern.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday that discussions with Washington about potential prisoner exchanges were being conducted by the two countries' intelligence services, and that he hoped they would be successful.

The brother of Paul Whelan, an American jailed in Russia, said on Wednesday his family was concerned about his whereabouts as they had not heard from him for days and had received unclear messages from prison staff that he was moved to the prison hospital.

The Russian Foreign Ministry was not currently engaged in any dialogue on the subject with the United States.

Russia and the United States have repeatedly been on the verge of agreement on a prisoner exchange, a senior Russian diplomat said Tuesday, adding that a deal is still possible before the year's end. The Biden administration has been trying for months to negotiate the release of WNBA star Brittney…

A senior Russian diplomat says that Russia and the United States have repeatedly come close to reaching agreement on a prisoner exchange and a deal remains possible before the year’s end

Diplomat in Moscow says US has ‘put a significant proposal on the table’ in effort to free basketball star jailed on drugs conviction

The United States is still talking to Russia about a deal to free jailed Americans Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan but Moscow has not provided a "serious response" to any of its proposals, a senior U.S. diplomat said in comments published on Monday.

The U.S. sent a strong message to Russia after the WNBA star was transferred to a penal colony earlier this week.