Moscow confirms negotiations with Washington on the "dealer of death" exchange

A Russian diplomat confirmed Saturday that Moscow and Washington are discussing a possible exchange of detainees, including a Russian arms dealer detained in the United States and an American basketball player detained in Russia.

And the United States announced several times that it had made a "serious proposal" to Russia to release American women's basketball star Britney Greiner and former American soldier Paul Whelan.

And US media reported that it was about exchanging Britney Graner and Paul Whelan for Victor Bout, nicknamed "The Merchant of Death".

Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout was arrested in Thailand in 2008 and is serving a 25-year prison sentence in the United States.

His unusual biography inspired the 2005 film "Lord of War" about arms smuggling, starring Nicolas Cage.

"Discussions on the highly sensitive issue of prisoner exchange are taking place through channels chosen by our leaders," said Alexander Darchev, director of the North American division of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

He added in an interview published by the Russian news agency (TASS) on Saturday that the names reported by the American media "are already being considered. Russia has been seeking the release of Victor Bout for a long time."

He explained that "quiet diplomacy is continuing and must bear fruit if Washington ... is of course keen to avoid being drawn into propaganda."

This is the first time Moscow has confirmed that discussions are underway over a possible exchange involving Bout.

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