According to a senior administration official, the Biden administration believes Russia will be willing to discuss the release of US Marine Paul Whelan, who was not released with WNBA star Brittney Griner, since “they have things they want in this world.”
Russia rejected the United States’ request to release Whelan, who has been imprisoned on espionage allegations since 2018, according to a CNN official. However, if the two countries want to reach an agreement on other significant problems, they will continue to communicate, the official said.
The official stated, “We have demonstrated a willingness to discuss what is truly available to us, but the sole answer has been a request for something that is not accessible.”
Friday, just after Brittney Griner landed in Texas, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that additional prisoner exchanges between the two nations were possible.
Putin stated, “everything is conceivable” in response to a question about future swaps, adding that “compromises had been reached” in order to exchange the Phoenix mercury star for arms dealer Viktor Bout.
Putin continued, “We are not rejecting to continue this effort in the future.”
“Whether this may pave the way for a dialogue with the United States is a distinct question,” added the Russian strongman. We were not tasked with transitioning away from these discussions, but they certainly generate a certain environment.
Whelan told CNN via telephone on Thursday that he did not get why Griner was released when he was not.
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Whelan, 53, stated on Thursday that he did not get why he was still being kept in a Russian jail camp while Griner was returning to American land.
The American basketball star was stopped at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport in February when Russian officials discovered vape canisters containing cannabis oil.
Griner, who claimed she packed the cannabis oil by accident, pled guilty to narcotics charges and was sentenced to nine years in a Mordovian hard labor camp.
“I am quite dissatisfied that more has not been done to obtain my release, particularly as the fourth anniversary of my arrest approaches,” he stated.
Whelan maintains his innocence since his arrest in 2018.
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“I was arrested for a nonexistent offense,” Whelan said. “I do not comprehend why I am still seated here.”
President Biden emphasized on Thursday that the exchange “did not involve a decision over which American to bring home.”
We have not forgotten Paul Whelan. We will continue to negotiate Paul’s release in good faith,” he added.
Initially, the Biden administration suggested a compromise to Russia that would release both Griner and Whelan, but Russia insisted on a one-for-one exchange.
»Biden administration says Paul Whelan discussions will continue because Russians want ‘something’«