Russian diplomat says prisoner swap with US remains possible

WNBA star Brittney Griner is escorted from a courtroom (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP)

Russia and the United States have repeatedly been on the verge of agreement on a prisoner exchange, a senior Russian diplomat has said, adding that a deal is still possible before the year’s end.

The Biden administration has been trying for months to negotiate the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner and another American jailed in Russia, Michigan corporate security executive Paul Whelan, including through a possible prisoner swap with Moscow.