U.S. and Russia Hold Quiet Talks About Potential Prisoner Exchange
Russia and the United States have conducted quiet discussions about a potential prisoner exchange that could affect at least eight Americans currently held in Russian prisons. Moscow’s special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, told Axios that during a late-October visit to Washington he and U.S. officials held talks he described as “humanitarian in nature, such as possible exchanges of prisoners that the U.S. side has been working on.”
A senior U.S. official confirmed the outreach and characterized the tone of the talks as constructive, but emphasized that no agreement has been reached and any outcome remains uncertain.
“The U.S. will welcome the release of any detained American,” the official said, while stressing there is no deal yet.
Dmitriev met with President Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, during the Washington trip. A source familiar with the conversations told Axios that Russia hopes a swap could help “create more trust between the countries.”
Who could be part of a swap
Axios reported that the U.S. sent a list of names to Moscow earlier this year. U.S. officials have not confirmed whether these specific individuals are part of current discussions, but the names on the reportedly shared list include:
- Stephen James Hubbard, 73 — accused of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine.
- David Barnes — serving a 21-year sentence after a conviction tied to a cross-border custody dispute.
- Robert Gilman — a former U.S. Marine convicted of assaulting a police officer.
- Eugene Spector — sentenced on bribery and espionage-related charges.
- Michael Travis Leake and Robert Romanov Woodland — both jailed on drug-related offenses.
- Daniel Joseph Schneider — convicted of abducting his son.
- Gordon Black — a U.S. soldier imprisoned on theft charges and alleged threats.
Several detainees were released earlier this year in separate arrangements. With Moscow signaling interest and Washington publicly pushing to secure Americans detained abroad, the groundwork for another high-stakes exchange appears to be under way — but officials on both sides caution that diplomacy is still at an early stage and outcomes are far from certain.
Reporting: Axios. This article summarizes public statements and reported lists; U.S. officials have not verified which names, if any, are part of ongoing negotiations.
