"Other Principles": The Kremlin explained whether the war in Ukraine will stop the return of spies of the Russian Federation - WP

American journalist Evan Gershkovich and other Americans, who returned after historical exchange, arrived in Texas for medical examinations, released by Russian opposition figures were transported to the German Cologne. For their part, Kremlin representatives were also happy to return home to elite spies and special services. About it writes The Washington Post.

The Kremlin Prescribe Dmitry Peskov waved away from any assumptions that this exchange-the largest since the Cold War-can mark some improvement of the relations of the West and the Russian Federation and start peace talks on war in Ukraine. According to him, the exchange was in the common interests of the parties.

"If we talk about Ukraine and more difficult international problems, this is a completely different question," he answered the question of journalists about whether the Russian Federation is ready to compromise and end the invasion of the neighboring country. According to him, the CIA and the Russian FSB were negotiated. "There are completely different principles.

The principles of national interests of our country, the interests of national security, work underway in another mode, in accordance with other principles," Peskov added. Tatiana Stanova, Russian analyst and founder R. Politik, who now lives in France, said that it is not necessary to expect a breakthrough in US and Russia relations, although the Russian side has released 16 prisoners, including some prominent opposition figures.

For their part, the country of the West was given eight prisoners and two children whose parents were suspected as Russian spies. "There are no signs that this exchange will facilitate peace talks about Ukraine. This reflects the current state in which each party learns to live in conditions where there are no mutual concessions," she said.

Peskov also confirmed for the first time that Vadim Kraskov was a employee of the elite unit of the FSB "Alfa", even though Moscow once denied any of his involvement in the murder of the Chechen Field Commander Zelimman Khangshvili. The case happened in Berlin in 2019. Peskov also said that one of the representatives of Russian military intelligence returned home.

When asked that Russian President Vladimir Putin hugged Kraskov, Peskov replied that the "informal" greeting is explained by the fact that Krasikov was the operative of "Alfa". According to the journalists of The Washington Post, Putin, as a former KGB agent, seems to be particularly interested in the release of Krasikov. "This is very important," Peskov said, explaining Putin's decision to personally congratulate those who returned to the Russian Federation.