The US has made Russia a “substantial proposal” to secure the release of American detainees Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday.
Mr Blinken said he would speak directly to Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the coming days to discuss the proposed deal, in what would be their first conversation since Russia invaded Ukraine five months ago.
“We put a substantial proposal on the table weeks ago to facilitate their release,” Mr Blinken said.
“Our governments have communicated repeatedly and directly on that proposal and I’ll use the conversation to follow up personally and I hope move us towards a resolution.”
He did not divulge the details of the proposal but emphasised that President Joe Biden “was not only directly involved”, and “he signs off on any proposal that we make, certainly when it comes to Americans who are being arbitrarily detained abroad”.
The Biden administration has declined to comment on whether it would agree to release Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer serving a 25-year prison sentence in the US, as part of a swap for Griner and Mr Whelan.
But CNN reported on Wednesday that Washington would release Bout in exchange for the release of Griner, a WNBA player, and Mr Whelan, a former marine.
The US had previously spurned the possibility of an exchange to free Bout.
Nicknamed the “Merchant of Death”, Bout was in 2012 sentenced 25 years in prison in Illinois on charges of conspiring to kill Americans, exporting anti-aircraft missiles and supporting a terrorist organisation. Russia has denied those charges.
“I can’t and won’t get into any of the details of what we proposed to the Russians … My hope would be, in speaking to Foreign Minister Lavrov, I can advance the efforts to bring them home,” Mr Blinken said.
Mr Whelan was detained in Russia in December 2018 on spying charges and was sentenced to 16 years in prison. The US government strongly denies the charges.
Griner was detained in February on drug-trafficking charges after cannabis oil was found in her bag at a Moscow airport.
She pleaded guilty to the charges this month although her defence team has said the vape oil was for medicinal purposes. She faces up to 10 years in prison.
Mr Blinken said he also planned to speak with Mr Lavrov about the UN-brokered deal to free Ukrainian grain from storage and possible Russian attempts to annex portions of eastern and southern Ukraine.
“If we can help through our direct diplomacy, for the Russians to make good on the commitments they've made, that will help people around the world, then I'm determined to do it,” Mr Blinken said.
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Phoenix Mercury centre Brittney Griner during the first half of Game 2 of the WNBA Finals against the Chicago Sky. AP -
Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and WNBA champion, was detained at Moscow airport in February on charges of carrying in her luggage vape cartridges with cannabis oil. AFP -
Griner leaving a courtroom after a hearing in May. The Phoenix Mercury star, considered in some polls to be the US’s most gifted female athlete, could face 10 years in prison if convicted on charges of large-scale transportation of drugs. AP -
Griner asked US President Joe Biden to free her from a Russian prison in a handwritten letter on July 4, 2022, portions of which were made public by her family. AFP -
Grineris escorted before a court hearing in Khimki outside Moscow, Russia on July 1, 2022. Reuters -
The US stepped up its push in March for consular access to Griner, who is detained in Russia on allegations of drug smuggling. AP -
Griner at the White House alongside teammates. Photo: US National Archives -
Brittney Griner of the Phoenix Mercury celebrates with fans. Getty Images North America / AFP -
A man holds a sign for Brittney Griner Home during the first half of the WNBA game between the Chicago Sky and Phoenix Mercury at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. EPA -
Griner, a player of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury team was arrested in February at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport after some hash oil was detected and found in her luggage, for which she now could face a prison sentence of up to ten years. EPA -
Fans hold signs Griner during the first half of the WNBA game between the Chicago Sky and Phoenix Mercury at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. EPA -
A sign for Griner is displayed during a game between Portland Thorns FC and Angel City FC at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images / AFP -
The Khimki City Court reportedly had extended Greiner's detention for the duration of her trial on charges of drug smuggling that started on 01 July. EPA -
Griner gestures during a game against Australia at Saitama Super Arena in their Tokyo 2020 Olympic women's basketball quarterfinal game in Saitama, Japan August 4, 2021. Reuters -
Dallas Wings' Marina Mabrey wears shoes that have a "BG" logo on them, a reference to Brittney Griner, during the second half of the team's WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever, Thursday, June 23, 2022, in Arlington, Texas. AP -
"We Are BG 42" is displayed on the exterior of Footprint Center before the WNBA game between the Phoenix Mercury and the Minnesota Lynx on June 21, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. Getty Images / AFP -
Minnesota Lynx's Aerial Powers wears a shirt in support of Griner during introductions for the team's WNBA basketball game against the Seattle Storm. Star Tribune / AP -
Griner poses with her gold medal in Women's Basketball at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, August 8, 2021. Reuters -
Brittney Griner with teammates Diana Taurasi and Skylar Diggins posing for pictures with their gold medals on the podium during the medal ceremony for the women's basketball competition of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. AFP
