Washington (USA), Feb 12 (LaPresse) – U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking from the White House where he welcomed citizen Marc Fogel upon his return from detention in Russia, refused to confirm whether he had discussed Fogel with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
When asked about the terms of the agreement for Fogel’s release, Trump responded: "Very fair, very, very fair, very reasonable. These are not deals like the ones we've seen over the years. They were very fair." The former president did not disclose what the United States had offered in exchange for Fogel’s release.
For his part, Fogel praised the Russian leader, calling him "very generous and a statesman for granting me clemency." Trump's National Security Advisor, Michael Waltz, stated that the United States and Russia had "negotiated an exchange" but did not clarify whether the U.S. had released anyone in return.
Waltz described this development as "a sign that we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine." Trump, a Republican, has vowed to find a way to bring the conflict to an end. The White House occupant also stated that he has a good relationship with Putin.