Skip to content
Edit post

Blinken demands ‘immediate release’ of detained US reporter in a phone call with Lavrov

by The Kyiv Independent news desk April 2, 2023 6:58 PM 1 min read
This audio is created with AI assistance

On April 2, the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for the “immediate release” of the detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and U.S. citizen Paul Whelan during his phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

This was their fist phone call since July.

According to the U.S. State Department, Blinken “conveyed the United States’ grave concern over Russia’s unacceptable detention of a U.S. citizen, journalist.”

Gershkovich was arrested in the city of Yekaterinburg while working on a story about the Wagner mercenary group recruiting local residents, as well as Russian citizens' views on the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Gershkovich received the proper press accreditation to work as a journalist in Russia. Now, he's accused by Moscow of being a spy.

Following his arrest, Blinken also called on American citizens to leave Russia.

According to CNN, Whelan is serving out a 16-year prison sentence for the same charges as Gershkovich, “which he strongly denies.” He was detained in 2018.

During their April 2 phone call, Blinken and Lavrov also discussed the “importance of creating an environment that permits diplomatic missions to carry out their work,” according to the U.S. State Department.

The two officials met for the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on March 2 at the New Dehli G20 summit.

According to CNN, their meeting lasted only ten minutes, during which Blinken stressed once again that the U.S. will continue supporting Ukraine “for as long as it takes.”

News Feed

7:15 PM

Ukraine's artillery braces for shell shortage as US halts aid.

The Kyiv Independent's Francis Farrell and Olena Zashko spent a day with an artillery crew from the 28th Mechanized Brigade in the front-line city of Kostiantynivka. Following the recent decision by the Pentagon to halt shipments of certain weapons to Ukraine, a looming shell shortage is once again on the horizon for Ukrainian forces.
9:17 AM  (Updated: )

'There is also good news' — Ukrainian drones hit key military optics plant in Russia, General Staff confirms.

Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's counter-disinformation center, said a drone hit the Azov Optical and Mechanical Plant in the town of Azov, Rostov Oblast. The facility reportedly manufactures critical components for the Russian military, including sights, rangefinders, thermal imaging systems, and fire control equipment for tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, ships, and aircraft.
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.