Biden administration offers Russian arms dealer for Griner, Whelan

Updated on July 29, 2022 10:26 AM by Andrew Koschiev

US officials

US officials have offered to swap Viktor Bout, a Russian arms trafficker serving a 25-year prison sentence in the United States, for Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan as part of a possible deal to secure the release of two Americans held by Russia.

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President Joe Biden

According to these same sources, President Joe Biden has given his blessing to the trade of Bout for Whelan and Griner, which has been discussed since earlier this year. Biden's backing overrides the Department of Justice's resistance to prisoner swaps for the swap.

Peskov

A spokesperson for the Kremlin stated on Thursday that "there has been no agreement on this topic so far." Peskov remarked

Whelan and Griner, who are being held in Russia illegally, have been offered a "substantial proposal" by the United States "weeks ago," according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Blinken

Blinken said Biden was "directly involved" and gave his approval to the plan during a press conference at the State Department. However, despite Blinken's refusal to say whether or not Bout was part of the deal, saying that he "cannot and will not" discuss the specifics, he did say that "in terms of President, obviously he was not only directly involved, he signs off on any proposal that we make," including in this specific case. Bout has been arbitrarily detained abroad.

Foreign Minister Lavrov

"My hope would be that by speaking with Foreign Minister Lavrov, I can advance the efforts to bring them home," the top US diplomat told reporters ahead of an expected phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov this week. It will be his first conversation with his counterpart since the war in Ukraine began.

Talking to Russians in a straightforward

I believe it is beneficial to communicate with the Russians in a straightforward manner about the most important issues to the United States. According to him, "These include the return of Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan."

"It takes two to tango," a senior administration official told CNN, referring to the "substantial offer" made in June.

Bad actor

"With a bad actor on the other side, we begin all negotiations to bring home Americans who have been held hostage or wrongfully detained." The official said, "We begin all of these with someone who has used a human being American as a bargaining chip."

Therefore, when those same actors fail to directly respond to our offers or engage constructively in negotiations, it's not surprising, even if it is disheartening.

"substantial" offer's details

The official refused to discuss the "substantial" offer's details. They said it was up to Russia to respond, but they were not going to sit on their hands. They said they would keep communicating the offer to the highest levels of the Russian government.

In the case of Whelan and Griner, the families of both men have asked the White House to help obtain their release, even if it means arranging a prisoner exchange if it is required.

Prior to Blinken's statement

Prior to Blinken's statement, a senior administration official communicated with the families, according to National Security Council Strategic Coordinator for Communications John Kirby. Vice President Joe Biden recently spoke by phone with Cherelle Griner and Elizabeth Whelan, Griner's wife and Whelan's sister.

Workings of US-Russia diplomacy

In a Russian courtroom on Wednesday, Griner, who pled guilty to narcotics charges in July but maintained she mistakenly brought cannabis into Russia, testified as part of her ongoing trial.

According to US sources acquainted with the Russian justice system and the inner workings of US-Russia diplomacy, her trial must be completed before a compromise can be reached.