Topline
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said Friday he spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov over the “substantial” deal the U.S. offered the country to return detained American citizens Paul Whelan and WNBA star Britney Griner, days after it was reported the U.S. put a prisoner swap on the table.
WNBA basketball superstar Brittney Griner arrives to a hearing at the Khimki Court, outside Moscow … [+]
Key Facts
This was the first time Blinken spoke with Lavrov since Russia invaded Ukraine in February.
Blinken said he and Lavrov had a “frank and direct conversation” in which he “pressed the Kremlin to accept the substantial proposal” to bring Whelan and Griner home.
The White House has not confirmed that the prisoner swap—widely reported among different media outlets—is the offer that’s on the table.
Key Background
Blinken announced Wednesday the U.S. made Russia a proposal “weeks ago to facilitate” Griner and Whelan’s release from the country. Forbes first reported in May about the potential swap with convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, also known as the “Merchant Of Death.” Griner has been detained in Russia since February and is facing drug charges there. Her trial is ongoing, and if convicted she faces 10 years in prison. Whelan was sentenced to 16 years in Russian prison on espionage charges. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Russia had not accepted an offer, and that information about a possible swap should not be publicized. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said talks between the two countries were ongoing.
Tangent
Russia requested that in addition to Bout, Vadim Krasikov, a convicted murderer sentenced to life in prison in Germany, also be released in the rumored prisoner swap, CNN reported Friday. The request was not communicated formally but through back channels, given its controversial nature, CNN reported. Though the U.S. did not consider it to be a legitimate counter offer, quiet inquiries were made to Germany about Krasikov. Some U.S. officials believe Russia is trying to stall until the end of Griner’s trial by making less-than-serious offers, according to CNN.
Further Reading
Russia: Prisoner Swap For Griner, Whelan Still Under Discussion (Forbes)
Brittney Griner Involved In Possible Prisoner Swap With Russia (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisadellatto/2022/07/29/blinken-urges-russia-to-accept-substantial-griner-and-whelan-offer/