In addition to Gershkovich, Carstens also discussed Whelan, who has been detained in Russia since 2018 on espionage charges. Whelan was notably not a part of the December, 2022 prisoner swap that brought women’s basketball star Brittney Griner back to the U.S. from Russia.

Carstens said he spoke with Whelan by phone on Monday, April 10, and said that the U.S. has “a significant offer on the table” to bring Whelan home.

“Paul Whelan is still front and center in the administration’s mind and we’re going to find a way to get Paul Whelan and Evan home,” Carstens said.