Washington has proposed exchanging Griner and Whelan for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
According to former U.S. ambassador to the UN Bill Richardson, who visited Moscow in September, WNBA star Brittney Griner and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who are detained in Russia, could be released before the end of this year.
Griner, a U.S. citizen and two-time gold medalist in basketball at the Olympics, pleaded guilty to drug charges and was given a nine-year prison term in Russia on Aug. 4. She said that by packing vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage, she unintentionally infringed the law.
Whelan, who is in possession of passports from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Ireland, was found guilty of spying in 2020 and given a 16-year prison term. He denied the accusation.
Although his journey was not on behalf of the United States, Richardson said in an interview that he had met with top Russian officials and people close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Richardson, a former governor of New Mexico and a private advocate for the release of American prisoners abroad said, "I am cautiously optimistic on the Griner (and) Whelan negotiations." Richardson continued by expressing his belief that two Russians will be included in a detainee exchange in addition to the two Americans. He did not specify who the Russians were or the precise moment.
When asked if the two Americans may be freed before the year was up, he responded, "I do think so. Now, I hate making predictions, but yes."
Late in July, the U.S. claimed to have made a "substantial offer" to gain the release of the two Americans. According to sources acquainted with the matter, Washington has proposed exchanging Griner and Whelan for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. There have been reports that Moscow has asked for the release of a second Russian, but Washington has not made any specific offers.
In the midst of strained relations between the two nations following Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, which spurred a U.S.-led attempt to punish Moscow with sanctions and isolate it diplomatically, talks are taking place. A "serious counter-offer" has not yet been received, the White House stated last week. Richardson, who did not name the individuals, claimed that he had gotten the impression that Moscow was "ready to talk" from the Russian officials he had met.
Senior U.S. officials have recently stated that private persons cannot negotiate on behalf of the U.S. government, and the Biden administration has distanced itself from Richardson's travel and activities in Russia.
