President Joe Biden and Russia’s Vladimir Putin agreed to swap WNBA player Brittney Griner, who was in Russian prison for marijuana possession while traveling, for Viktor Bout, the “Merchant of Death” who sold arms and was convicted of conspiring to kill Americans. The real winner of this trade was clearly Russia, as Putin continues to…

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticized the Biden administration’s decision to swap celebrity basketball player Brittney Griner for a Russian arms dealer, saying the move establishes “the wrong incentives for the bad guys” and makes international travel less safe for Americans. Pompeo made the remarks during an appearance on Fox News that aired Sunday,…

The Biden administration’s decision to swap WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner for a convicted Russian arms dealer establishes “the wrong incentives for the bad guys” and makes international travel less safe for Americans, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said. While Pompeo says he’s glad that Griner has been freed and is back in the United…

Former President Donald Trump said he had previously turned down a prisoner swap deal with Russia, saying he couldn’t have former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan home but allow out convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who has “killed untold numbers.” “I turned down a deal with Russia for a one on one swap of the…

The prisoner exchange of WNBA basketball player Brittney Griner and convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout has been caught on video and was released by Russia’s state media outlet TASS on Thursday. In the video, Griner can be seen on the tarmac of an airport wearing a red jacket as she walked next to unidentified individuals…

American basketball player Brittney Griner has been released by Russian authorities in a prisoner swap for arms dealer Viktor Bout. Griner, 32, was en route to the United States, President Joe Biden said on Dec. 8. “She’s safe. She’s on a plane. She’s on her way home,” he told reporters at a briefing at the…

KHIMKI, Russia—The Russian drugs trial of U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner should be over “very soon,” her lawyer said on Tuesday, as the Kremlin warned the United States that megaphone diplomacy would not secure a prisoner swap for the 31-year-old Texan. Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and a Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) star,…

LONDON—Russia said on Thursday that negotiations with the United States on exchanging prisoners are ongoing but there is no deal to swap detained U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner for jailed Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that “so far there are no agreements in this area.” Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria…