Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at a news conference, Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at the State Department in Washington. The Biden administration has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American Paul Whelan. That's according to Antony Blinken, who also revealed that he had asked to speak with his Kremlin counterpart for the first time in months in hopes of expediting an answer from Russia. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at a news conference, Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at the State Department in Washington. The Biden administration has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American Paul Whelan. That's according to Antony Blinken, who also revealed that he had asked to speak with his Kremlin counterpart for the first time in months in hopes of expediting an answer from Russia. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to accept a "significant proposal" to bring home Americans Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, Blinken told reporters Friday.
Blinken would not characterize Lavrov's responses, or say whether an agreement was "any more or less likely" after the call.
Blinken on Wednesday declined to confirm reports that the Biden administration had offered convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in a prisoner swap for the two Americans.
The Blinken and Lavrov call was the first between the two officials since the start of the war in Ukraine, the secretary of State said earlier this week.
"By having a substantial offer on the table, we're being clear and transparent about whats happening," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Friday. "Those conversations will continue."
Griner, a WNBA star, is on trial in Russia after being arrested in Moscow in February, when officials found cannabis oil in her luggage. She acknowledged she had the oil when she arrived in Russia, but maintains she had no criminal intent.
Whelan, a former Marine, was detained in December 2018 on espionage charges. He was sentenced to 16 years in Russian prison a year and a half later, a result observers have said violated his human rights.
On the call, Blinken also urged Russia to act on its commitments to end a blockade on Ukrainian ports, in order to allow grain exports. He reiterated his concern about Russia potentially annexing additional parts of Ukraine — or, as he put it, Putin "gobbling up as much Ukrainian territory as he can."
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