{O/C} In an about-face on forceful U.S. sanctions against Russia, Washington has presented Moscow with a prisoner swap deal in which detained WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American will hopefully be freed.
{Take SOT}
A striking U-turn from the hostile side of the same coin to another.
{Soundbite}
ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. Secretary of State:
We put a substantial proposal on the table weeks ago to facilitate their release. Our governments have communicated repeatedly and directly on that proposal.
In the coming days, I expect to speak with Russian Foreign Minister (Sergey) Lavrov, for the first time since the war began.
{VO}
Antony Blinken portrayed the release of jailed American Paul Whelan and WNBA star Brittney Griner as "of top priority."
It'd be the first conversation between the foreign ministers since a week before the Russian incursion.
While the U.S. hopes to trade convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for Whelan and Griner, details of the proposed prisoner swap deal remain sketchy at best.
{Soundbite}
I can't, and won't get into any of the details of what we've proposed to the Russians.
The president's prepared to make tough decisions if it means the safe return of Americans (despite the Justice Department's opposition).
{VO}
Whelan, a corporate security executive from Michigan, was sentenced in 2020 to 16 years in prison for espionage.
This as Washington claims both persons are being wrongfully detained.
Griner, who was arrested for carrying vape cartridges with cannabis oil into Russia, asserted her innocence and that she was interrogated and forced to sign unknown documents.
{Soundbite}
Voice of BRITTNEY GRINER, WNBA Star:
I was in a rush packing. Like I said, I was recovering from COVID. Stress of packing, making sure I had my COVID tests, jet lag, and I was in a rush to throwing my stuff into my bag.
No, my rights were never read to me. No one explained any of it to me.
{VO}
The Biden administration has also run the gauntlet of those who call for the release of unjustly detained Americans in other countries.
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