Russia Failing to 'Seriously Negotiate' Brittney Griner's Release, State Dept. Says

Russia has not yet been serious in its negotiations for a prisoner swap, according to a statement from the US State Department.

The State Department statement downplayed an earlier statement by Russian deputy foreign minister.

We have made a substantial offer that the Russian Federation has failed to negotiate in good faith. The U.S. Government has continued to propose alternative ways to work with the Russians. The Russian government's failure to seriously negotiate on these issues in the established channel is contrary to its public statements.

"We haven't found common ground yet, but, undoubtedly, Viktor Bout is among those being discussed and obviously." We are working on this through appropriate channels, as the Americans are showing some activity.

Since the U.S. has made attempts to bring Griner home through a prisoner swap, it was assumed that progress was being made.

She has been in Russian custody for more than two months after she was found to be in possession of e-liquid in an airport.

She was sentenced to nine years in prison after pleading guilty. The sentence was upheld upon appeal and the prisoner was transferred to a Russian colony.

Three months after she was arrested, the United States declared that she was being wrongly held in Russia.

President Joe Biden hopes that Russian President Vladimir Putin will be more willing to talk about a prisoner exchange now that the United States has elected a new president.