State Department spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: “We have stated many times that we are ready for negotiations to resolve the fate of US citizens convicted in Russia and Russian citizens in the US.” Russia has previously suggested it is open to a prisoner swap that could include US Marine Corps veteran Paul Whelan, basketball star Brittney Griner and Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer jailed in the United States. Griner is serving a 9-year sentence for possession and trafficking in cannabis, while Whelan is serving a 16-year sentence for espionage. US President Joe Biden met with the Whelan and Griner families at the White House on Friday, with press secretary Karin Jean-Pierre saying the administration is committed to “working with all available avenues to bring Brittney and Paul safely.” The Kremlin has repeatedly said what it has called “megaphone diplomacy” from Washington will not help efforts to arrange a prisoner exchange, urging closed talks instead. (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne/Guy Faulconbridge)
