Paul Whelan still wondering why he was left behind in Russia, brother says

David Whelan told ABC News that he's hoping U.S. officials can bring his brother back home.

Even though the U.S. successfully negotiated the release of Trevor Reed from a Russian prison, after nearly three years of captivity, the brother of another detained American isn't sure that his family member will follow suit.

David Whelan, the brother of Paul Whelan, who's been held by Russian officials since 2019, gave an update on his sibling's condition to ABC News on Monday.

Paul Whelan spoke with his parents after Reed's release and said the news was hard for him, according to David Whelan.

"He asked, 'Why was I left behind?' And we still don't really have a good answer for that," David Whelan told ABC News.