INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
secure her release through a high-profile prisoner exchange.Griner, 31, faces up to 10 years in a Russian penal colony if convicted of
Paul Whelan, who is serving a 16-year prison sentence on espionage charges
Several reports have suggested the swap could include convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout
State Secretary Antony Blinken spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov by phone for the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine in
February, urging him to accept the prisoner swap
Lavrov called for "quiet diplomacy without any dubious media leaks" after the call.Bloomberg reported Monday, citing unnamed people familiar
with discussions, that Russia is seeking to extract a two-for-two prisoner swap
A potential second Russian prisoner that Moscow officials had floated include Vadim Krasikov, who is serving a life sentence for murder in
Germany, and Vladislav Klyushin, who has been extradited to the United States from Switzerland on insider-trading charges
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson accused Russia of
making a "bad faith" counteroffer that they dismissed as "not serious."
