US trades Brittney Griner for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout

• U.S. officials say Russia released Brittney Griner for Viktor Bout.
• Joe Biden’s goal was achieved, but it cost him four years in prison.
• The deal is the second prisoner swap with Russia in eight months.

In a high-profile prisoner swap on Thursday, Russia released WNBA star Brittney Griner in exchange for the release of notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, according to American officials.

President Joe Biden’s principal objective was fulfilled by the trade, which took place during a period of increased tensions over Ukraine, but it came at a high cost and left an American prisoner in Russia for over four years.

The deal, which marked the second such swap with Russia in eight months, secured the release of the most well-known American held overseas.

Griner, a two-time gold medalist at the Olympics, was wrongfully imprisoned for several months on drug-related accusations, and this took the issue to a whole new level of public attention.

The increasing pressure on Biden’s administration to repatriate Griner was highlighted by his approval of the release of a Russian felon once known as “the Merchant of Death.”

This was especially true given the recent conclusion of her criminal prosecution and her subsequent transfer to a correctional camp.

Moments ago I spoke to Brittney Griner.

She is safe.
She is on a plane.
She is on her way home. pic.twitter.com/FmHgfzrcDT

— President Biden (@POTUS) December 8, 2022

Under the condition of anonymity, U.S. officials with direct knowledge of the negotiations but who were not authorized to speak publicly about the agreement before a White House statement confirmed the trade.

After months of tense negotiations, Russian and American officials have recently expressed cautious optimism.

Biden stated in November that he was confident that Russia would enter into an agreement now that the midterm elections were over.

A deal could be reached by the end of the year, a senior Russian official indicated last week.

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