A top Russian official is brushing back suggestions that the American being held in Moscow on suspicion of spying could be exchanged for a Russian.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Saturday it’s too early to talk swaps, since former US Marine Paul Whelan hasn’t been charged.

Russia is yet to clarify why Whelan was arrested, though his family says he only travelled to Moscow to attend a wedding.

His recent arrest has spurred speculation that Russia is using him as a pawn to trade for Maria Butina, who pleaded guilty to conspiring to act as an agent of the Kremlin last month.