T.J.Quinn explains the next steps for the United States and the basketball player after it was made public that the Biden administration has offered a deal to Russia in order to bring her back to the United States. There is a time and a place for it.
The Russian Foreign Minister said that he would be willing to talk to the U.S. Secretary of State about a prisoner swap.
The US had offered Russia a deal that would bring home the two Americans, according to the deputy secretary of state. According to multiple reports, the U.S. government wants to trade a convicted Russian arms dealer for two Americans.
The U.S. requested a call from the Russian ministry after Blinken made the statement, according to the Russian foreign minister. Russia's top diplomat said he would be ready once he came back to Moscow and that the timing of the call was being worked out.
The Foreign Ministry has not been involved in previous discussions on the prisoner exchange.
He will listen to what he has to say.
The prisoner swaps were usually negotiated behind the scenes, according to the Kremlin.
Peskov told reporters during a conference call that the issues are discussed without any information being released. The public knows about it when the agreements are already in place.
In the first instance, the U.S. government publicly revealed any concrete action it has taken to secure the release of a prisoner. The Phoenix Mercury center and two-time Olympic gold medal winner was arrested at a Moscow airport in February after inspectors found cannabis oil in her luggage.
Tensions between Moscow and Washington are high as Russia prepares to send troops into Ukraine. Teammates and supporters in the United States have been critical of the five-month imprisonment of the basketball player.
She testified that she had a doctor's recommendation to use cannabis to treat career-related pain, even though she didn't know how the gun ended up in her bag.
The 31-year-old pleaded guilty but said she had no criminal intent in bringing the cartridges to Russia and packed in haste for her return to a Russian basketball league. She could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. According to sources, a verdict and sentence are expected on August 5.
The Biden administration has faced political pressure to release Americans who have been wrongly imprisoned in Russia.
A Michigan man was sentenced to 16 years in prison for espionage. He and his family are adamant that he is not guilty. The US government has denied the charges.
It would be the first conversation between the two since February.
Russia has been interested in the release of Bout for a long time. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison for scheming to sell millions of dollars in weapons.
The AP contributed.
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