Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed today, Friday, that another prisoner exchange between Moscow and Washington is "possible", after Moscow released American basketball player Brittney Griner in return for Washington's release of Russian businessman Viktor Bout.
Bot arrived today, Friday, in Russia, where his mother and wife were waiting for him, after he spent 10 years in American prisons, while a plane carrying Greiner landed in the United States early this morning as well, after nearly 10 months of being detained in Russia.
Putin said during a press conference on the sidelines of a regional summit in Kyrgyzstan, "Contacts continue at the level of the intelligence services, and they never stopped. Is another (prisoner exchange) possible? Yes, everything is possible."
However, he stressed that these negotiations do not necessarily constitute a "prelude" to a dialogue dealing with other issues, at the height of a crisis between Moscow and Washington due to several files, most notably the Russian military operation in Ukraine.
"We did not set goals so that these negotiations would lead to other (negotiations). But they provide a certain atmosphere, that's right," Putin said.
Talks continue
Earlier Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that the negotiations do not end the crisis between the two countries, considering that relations between them are still "in a situation that calls for regret."
Russia's RIA Novosti news agency quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying that Russia and the United States would continue talks on a possible prisoner exchange directly, without intermediaries.
The Americans and the Russians exchange accusations of detaining citizens of the two countries for political purposes.
Yesterday, Thursday, the exchange did not include another American detained in Russia, former Navy soldier Paul Whelan (52 years old), who was arrested in December 2018 in Russia, and then sentenced in 2020 to 16 years in prison on charges of espionage.
Yesterday, Thursday, US President Joe Biden said that his country remains committed to securing the return of former soldier Paul Whelan to his country.