Former US Marine, Paul Whelan, who is currently serving a prison sentence in Russia for espionage, has expressed his feelings of abandonment by the United States. In a recent interview with the BBC, Whelan stated that he believed the US government had failed to put forward proposals that could convince Russia to agree to a potential prisoner swap.

Whelan was apprehended by the Federal Security Service (FSB) on December 28, 2018, in a room at Moscow's Metropol Hotel. He was accused of being caught with a flash drive containing sensitive information, which he denies.

The United States has continually emphasized that Whelan is "wrongfully detained" and refuted any claims that he was involved in espionage. The US government has made various offers in the hopes of securing Whelan's release, but so far, they have been unsuccessful.

Whelan expressed his disappointment and called a previous swap, in which he was left behind in Russia, a "serious betrayal." He further criticized the US proposals, stating that they did not align with what the Russian authorities were seeking. Whelan portrayed the negotiation process as ineffective, comparing it to "throwing spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks."

The US State Department has issued repeated warnings to its citizens in Russia, advising them to leave the country due to the risks of arbitrary arrest or harassment by Russian law enforcement agencies. The recent release of US basketball star Brittney Griner from a Russian penal colony as part of a prisoner exchange highlights the gravity of these concerns.

When asked about the potential for a prisoner swap involving Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed hope for an agreement. However, he insisted that the US needed to listen to Russia's conditions. Putin conveyed that while finding a solution was not simple, there was a level of mutual understanding that could be built upon.

In response to Putin's remarks, White House national security spokesperson, John Kirby, noted that Russia had disregarded a serious proposal from the US. Meanwhile, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized the US's desire for a deal.

During a recent visit to Whelan's penal colony, a publicly appointed Russian monitor, Lyudmila Rezyapkina, reported that Whelan had raised concerns regarding the conditions of his detention. However, no other inmates expressed similar comments or complaints.

As the case of Paul Whelan continues, tensions persist between the United States and Russia. The fate of Whelan rests in the hands of diplomatic negotiations and the outcome of potential prisoner exchanges. The United States remains steadfast in its assertion that Whelan is innocent and has called for his release, while Russia expects the US to consider its demands before any deal can be reached.