A former United States ambassador to the UN who has worked out the release of numerous American residents kept in other countries traveled to Russia today as Washington continues to push for the release of 2 imprisoned Americans in high-profile cases, CNN reported Tuesday without naming its source.Bill Richardson convened with unknown Russian leaders in Moscow, according to the Associated Press, which pointed out an unnamed individual acquainted with the matter.No other information on Richardsons unannounced trip have actually been divulged.
If verified, the talks would be among the very first face-to-face United States -Russian negotiations given that the Kremlins forces got into Ukraine in February.President Vladimir Putins representative Dmitry Peskov told reporters Wednesday that there were no conferences at the Kremlin when asked to comment about Richardsons reported trip.CNN quoted a senior Biden administration authorities saying that anyone traveling to Russia is going as a civilian and they dont promote the U.S government.
Russian diplomats have confirmed that silent diplomacy was underway with the United States on a possible exchange of detainees held in both countries.
The United States is pressing for the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was last month sentenced to 9 years in Russian prison on drug smuggling charges, and former United States Marine Paul Whelan, founded guilty of espionage in June 2020 and sentenced to 16 years in prison.Griner pleaded guilty to the charges, but said she did not mean to utilize the banned substance in Russia.
Whelan keeps his innocence.
Washington classifies both Griner and Whelan as wrongfully apprehended, meaning the United States government is involved in efforts to protect their release.Moscow suggested that it was seeking the release of notorious arms trafficker Viktor Bout, who was in 2012 sentenced to 25 years in United States prison on charges of arming rebels in some of the worlds bloodiest conflicts.Richardson stated in August he was positive about efforts to negotiate a two for 2 prisoner swap with Russia.