US makes offer to Russia in bid to secure release of jailed Americans

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is hoping to talk to Sergei Lavrov (Andrew Harnik/AP)

The Biden administration has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home basketball star Brittney Griner and another jailed American Paul Whelan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

In a sharp reversal of previous policy, Mr Blinken also said he expects to speak to his Kremlin counterpart for the first time since before Russia invaded Ukraine.