Kremlin denies talks on easing US sanctions in exchange for prisoner releases

The Kremlin on Wednesday denied that Moscow and Washington had discussed easing US sanctions against Russia in exchange for prisoner releases.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was commenting on a report by The Atlantic magazine that US President Donald Trump had backed an initiative to ease some sanctions in exchange for the release of certain prisoners.

“It was not discussed, and in such a formulation it could not have been discussed, because we categorically deny the existence of any political prisoners and consider such a framing of the issue completely inappropriate,” Peskov told a press briefing in Moscow.

Referring to previous prisoner exchanges, Peskov said the two countries’ intelligence services remained in contact on the issue.

S-400 systems, Kaliningrad

On the possible transfer of Russian S-400 air defense systems currently in Türkiye to another country, Peskov said discussions were ongoing.

“The issue is on the agenda, relevant work is underway and relevant contacts are being maintained,” he said.

Peskov also said Moscow had noted statements from Poland and other European countries concerning a possible blockade of Russia’s Kaliningrad region.

“We have repeatedly heard statements from Poland and other European countries – quite unrestrained statements – in which the issue of Kaliningrad was also raised,” he said.

He said Russian diplomats were drawing European officials’ attention to Moscow’s policy documents on the matter.

“It is quite natural that our diplomats are trying to remind the hotheads in Europe of our policy documents on this matter,” Peskov said.

Kaliningrad is a Russian exclave on the Baltic Sea, bordered by Poland and Lithuania.

On Tuesday, Russia’s Embassy in London responded to British media reports suggesting NATO was considering a blockade of Kaliningrad or questioning Russian sovereignty over the region.

The embassy warned that Moscow would respond to such actions “using all means at its disposal,” including nuclear weapons.

Relations with Kazakhstan

Separately, Peskov welcomed Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s recent remarks about Russian President Vladimir Putin and relations between their countries.

"We highly value and are grateful to the president of Kazakhstan for the assessment he gave to President Putin," he said.

At a press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday, Tokayev said he had “very good contact” with Putin and described the Russian president as an “outstanding political figure,” according to The Times of Central Asia.

"Indeed, we value our bilateral relations with Kazakhstan. These are strategic partnership relations aimed at the future and covering a very broad range of areas," Peskov said.

He also said the relationship between Putin and Tokayev allowed them to discuss international issues, including efforts to reach a settlement in Ukraine.

"The personal relations between the two presidents are close, constructive and trusting, and this allows them to discuss the most difficult issues on the international agenda, including issues related to the Ukrainian settlement," Peskov said.

Putin regularly updates Tokayev on the situation in Ukraine during their meetings, he added.