“If He…Said, ‘I Want to Talk About the Release of Griner,’ I Would Meet With Him”, Spotlight on Brittney Griner Ahead of the G20 Summit

US President Joe Biden recently made his intentions for the G20 Summit crystal clear. He will attend the event, which is slated for mid-November. As one might expect, he will be joined by Russian President Vladimir Putin, amongst other world leaders. However, unless it is to discuss the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner, he has no plans to speak with his Russian counterpart.

In an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Biden was asked if he was willing to meet Putin at the G20. He immediately remarked that a meeting with the Russian President would be contingent on what he wanted to discuss.

“Look, I have no intention of meeting with him,” stated Biden. “But, for example, if he came to me at the G20 and said, ‘I want to talk about the release of Griner,’ I would meet with him,” he added.

Joe Biden and his administration are under mounting pressure to secure the release of the two-time Olympic gold medalist. They continue to maintain that Griner has been unlawfully detained by Russia.

Both countries were reportedly said to be discussing a possible prisoner swap. Furthermore, Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier claimed that a “substantial” offer had been made to Russia.

However, no fresh information has surfaced in this regard. Russia cautioned the US not to participate in any “megaphone diplomacy” to negotiate the prisoner swap because this may jeopardize the negotiations.

Brittney Griner was detained by Russian authorities at a Moscow airport when they discovered cannabis-infused vape cartridges in her luggage. In August, she was sentenced to nine years behind Russian bars after being charged with drug possession and smuggling.

Joe Biden met the families of Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan last month

Joe Biden demonstrated last month that Brittney Griner and fellow US prisoner Paul Whelan remain on his mind. He met with the detainees’ families at the White House, assuring them that he is working to secure their release.

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He met Cherelle Griner, Brittney Griner’s wife, and Elizabeth Whelan, Paul Whelan’s sister. Biden met with the prisoners’ families separately, expressing that securing their release is a top concern for him.

He provided them with a much-needed dose of optimism after being immersed in sorrow without their loved ones for so long.

Another individual, Bill Richardson, gave optimism to the families of the two detainees. The former Governor of New Mexico suggested that Griner and Whelan might return home by the end of the year. Following his meetings with Russian officials close to Vladimir Putin, he claimed that he is optimistic about the release of the two detainees.

It should be stressed, however, that Richardson does not work for the government. He is, in fact, a representative of his personal humanitarian organization.

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