JAKARTA - The United States has submitted a 'substantial proposal' to Russia to secure the release of two of its detained nationals, according to Foreign Minister Antony Blinken.
The two citizens of Uncle Sam's country detained by the Russian authorities are Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan.
Foreign Minister Blinken said he would speak directly with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the coming days to discuss the proposed deal, in what will be their first conversation since Russia invaded Ukraine five months ago.
"We put a substantial proposal on the table last week to facilitate their release," Foreign Minister Blinken said, according to The National News on July 28.
"Our government has communicated repeatedly and directly about the proposal and I will use that conversation to follow up personally and I hope to move us towards a resolution."
Secretary Blinken did not divulge details of the proposal, but stressed President Joe Biden was "not only directly involved", and "he signs off on any proposal we make, of course when it comes to Americans arbitrarily detained abroad".
President Biden's administration declined to comment on whether it would agree to release Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer serving a 25-year prison sentence in the US, as part of a swap for Griner and Mr. Whelan.
But CNN reported on Wednesday that Washington would release Bout in exchange for the release of Griner, a WNBA player, and Whelan, a former Marine. The US had previously rejected the possibility of an exchange to free Bout.
Dubbed the "Death Merchant", Bout was in 2012 sentenced to 25 years in prison in Illinois on charges of conspiring to kill Americans, exporting anti-aircraft missiles, and supporting terrorist organizations. Russia has denied the allegations.
"I cannot and will not go into any detail of what we are proposing to Russia. My hope is that, in speaking with Foreign Minister Lavrov, I can advance efforts to bring them home," Foreign Minister Blinken said.
Whelan was detained in Russia in December 2018 on spying charges and sentenced to 16 years in prison. The US government vehemently denies the accusations.
Griner was arrested in February on drug trafficking charges after cannabis oil was found in his bag at a Moscow airport.
He pleaded guilty to the charges this month, although his defense team said the vaping oil was for medicinal purposes. He faces up to 10 years in prison.
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Foreign Minister Blinken said he also plans to talk to Foreign Minister Lavrov about a UN-brokered deal to free Ukrainian wheat from detention and possible Russian efforts to annex eastern and southern Ukraine.
"If we can help through our direct diplomacy, for Russia to fulfill the commitments they have made, which will help people around the world, then I am determined to do so," he concluded.
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