This telephone interview, scheduled “in the coming days (…) will not be a negotiation about Ukraine”, but should be mainly devoted to the Americans detained in Russia and the resumption of Ukrainian grain exports, specified the US Secretary of State during a press conference.
“I plan to raise a topic that is a priority for us: the release of Paul Whelan and Brittney Griner, who were wrongfully arrested and who should be allowed to return home,” he said.
“We put a substantial offer on the negotiating table several weeks ago to facilitate these releases,” he added, refusing to specify what the American offer consists of.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Moscow Michael McFaul has called on President Joe Biden’s administration to swap the two American prisoners for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer imprisoned in the United States.
Basketball player Brittney Griner was arrested at Moscow airport in February after “vapes” and “a liquid with a peculiar smell” of cannabis oil were found in her hand luggage, according to the Federal Customs Service Russian. She faces up to 10 years in prison.
Ex-US soldier Paul Whelan, a former security manager for an auto parts company, detained since 2018, continues to maintain his innocence after being sentenced to 16 years in prison in Russia for espionage.
Mr. Blinken added that he intended to discuss with the Russian Foreign Minister the agreement between kyiv and Moscow concluded last week in Istanbul, via mediation by Turkey and under the aegis of the UN, to allow the delivery abroad of some 25 million tonnes of grain stuck in Ukrainian ports.
“We hope that this agreement will quickly allow the Ukrainian grain to be shipped again through the Black Sea and that Russia will honor its promise to allow these ships to pass,” he said.
However, Ukrainian officials have repeatedly said they do not trust Moscow to ensure the security of convoys and recall the Russian missile fire on Saturday at the port of Odessa.
The Kremlin for its part declared that it did not see any obstacles to the resumption of exports, also hampered by the presence of sea mines laid by Ukrainian forces to guard against a Russian amphibious assault.
Demining will only take place “in the corridor necessary for exports”, according to kyiv.
The last telephone conversation between the two men dates back to February 15, when Mr. Blinken had warned Russia against an invasion of Ukraine. Nine days later, Russian forces entered Ukrainian territory, leading the United States and its allies to impose a series of financial sanctions on it to isolate Moscow internationally.