.SecBlinken presses Lavrov on Russia's Ukraine annexation plans and grain blockade
While the crux of their conversation concentrated on the administration's"substantial" prisoner swap proposal to secure the freedoms of detained WNBA player Brittney Griner and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre broached the other topics during her Friday briefing."He spoke about the importance of Russia allowing ships to depart Odesa and to adhere to their grain deals," she told reporters.
Jean-Pierre repeated Griner and Whelan's cases were a presidential"priority," in addition to other"U.S. nationals, who are being wrongfully held or held hostage." "You heard from the secretary yourself," she said of Blinken."He was very clear, as I just laid out the three things that came up during that conversation. He also said he is not delusional, and we expect conversations and negotiations to continue."The White House and the State Department have declined to confirm reports that officials have offered to transfer convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for Griner and Whelan.
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