U.S. officials met with sister of Paul Whelan, American detained in Russia

Senior U.S. officials met virtually on Monday with Elizabeth Whelan, the sister of Paul Whelan, an American imprisoned in Russia, and assured her of President Joe Biden's commitment to gaining her brother's release, the White House said.

Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, told reporters that conversations with Whelan's family have been substantive, but he said what Russia wanted in exchange for Whelan was not something the United States had to give.

He did not provide details, but Russia has been wanting to gain the freedom of Vadim Krasikov, who is serving a life sentence for murder in Germany.