The United States has reportedly offered the Russian government a deal to free two imprisoned Americans, WNBA star Brittney Griner and corporate security executive Paul Whelan.
Though details of the offered deal remain scant at this juncture, a source close to the White House told the Associated Press that the United States offered the Kremlin convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in exchange for Griner and Whelan. In April, the U.S. successfully swapped convicted Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshen in exchange for imprisoned Marine veteran Trevor Reed.
“We put a substantial proposal on the table weeks ago to facilitate their release. Our governments have communicated repeatedly and directly on that proposal, and I’ll use the conversation to follow up personally and, I hope, to move us toward a resolution,” Blinken said.
John Kirby, a White House national security…
