The White House says it is sanctioning Russia for 'detaining American citizens'.

According to RIA Novosti, White House Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby said in an interview with Fox News on August 4 that the US would impose new sanctions on Russia for "the unlawful detention of American citizens."

"We have asked Americans not to go to Russia, we have imposed sanctions under the Levinson Act, and we will do it again," said White House Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby.

Earlier, on August 1st, Russia and the United States exchanged a total of 24 prisoners and 2 children in the largest prisoner exchange since the Cold War. This was the result of two years of tense negotiations.

In the prisoner exchange, eight Russian citizens detained in the United States, Germany, Norway, and Poland on various charges were released, in exchange for Russia freeing 16 others, including Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich, former US Marine Paul Whelan, five German citizens, and other prisoners.

U.S. officials said that negotiations for the prisoner exchange had been underway for months, but the final details of the agreement were only reached as President Joe Biden weighed crucial decisions about his political future.