US says Russia rejected deal to free detained Americans

State department says Moscow turned down substantial' proposal to secure release of Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan

Russia rejected a new proposal to free two detained Americans, the Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich and former marine Paul Whelan, the US government has said.

A state department spokesman, Matthew Miller, told reporters that the US made several proposals for a deal to return the two men, including a substantial one in recent weeks".