The Biden administration believes Russia will be open to discussing the release of Paul Whelan, the US Marine who was not freed with WNBA star Brittney Griner, because “they have things they …
, because “they have things they want in this world,” according to a senior administration official.
“We have shown an openness to talk about that which is actually available to us and gotten only in response a demand for something that was not available to us,” the official said. on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said more prisioner exchanges between the two countries could be a possibility.
Whelan spoke on the phone with CNN Thursday and said he didn’t understand why Griner was being released when he wasn’t.The American basketball star was detained in February at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport after Russian authorities found vape canisters with cannabis oil in her suitcase. “I am greatly disappointed that more has not been done to secure my release, especially as the four-year anniversary of my arrest is coming up,” he said.Whelan added. “I don’t understand why I’m still sitting here.”
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