US seeks Russia to negotiate prisoner swap

US diplomatic chief Anthony Blinken will speak with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for the first time on Wednesday (27). Invasion of Ukraine. However, the dialogue will deal with other issues, including the release of detained Americans.

Blinken told reporters that the phone conversation with Lavrov would take place “in the next few days” and that “it will not be about Ukraine.” The US diplomat added that the dialogue should mainly focus on the resumption of Ukrainian grain exports.

“I hope to talk about an issue that is a priority for us: the release of Paul Whelan and Brittney Griner, who were wrongfully detained so they can return home,” he said.

“Several weeks ago, we proposed during the negotiations to ease the releases,” Blinken said, without elaborating on what was proposed.

Former US Ambassador to Moscow Michael McFaul has called on President Joe Biden’s administration to replace the prisoners with the imprisoned Russian arms dealer Victor Bott in the US.

The Basketball player Brittney Griner He was arrested in February at a Moscow airport for transporting “vaporizers” and coconut oil perfume. Cannabis According to Russian authorities, in your hand luggage. Griner faces up to ten years in prison.

Paul Whelan is a former US soldier and former head of safety for an auto parts companyDetained in Russia since 2018 and sentenced to 16 years in prison for espionage.