Russia and US discuss Ukraine, food security, and prisoner exchange.
On July 29th, local time, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and US Secretary of State Blinken had a telephone conversation discussing the situation in Ukraine, global food security, and the exchange of detained individuals between the two countries.
The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Lavrov had engaged in a phone call with Blinken to discuss the situation in Ukraine. Lavrov emphasized that Russia will fully achieve its goals and objectives in the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine. He also alleged that the Ukrainian military is causing harm to civilians through the use of weapons from the United States and NATO. Lavrov and Blinken also discussed the matter of exchanging detained individuals between the two countries.
During discussions about the food security issue, Lavrov briefed Blinken on the details of a series of agreements signed in Istanbul on July 22 regarding the transportation of Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports and the promotion of Russian food and fertilizer exports. Lavrov highlighted that the situation has become more complicated due to US sanctions and that the US has yet to fulfill its promise to grant exemptions for the supply of Russian food.
US Secretary of State Blinken has stated that he had a "frank and direct" conversation with Lavrov and urged Russia to accept the US proposal to release detained American basketball player Brittany Griner and former Marine Paul Whelan during the call. According to information released by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lavrov suggested that the US return to a "quiet diplomatic" approach in the exchange of prisoners, rather than engaging in hyped-up media coverage.
On the 27th, Blinken stated that the US had issued a "substantial proposal" to Russia, requesting the release of two American citizens. According to a source cited by CNN, the White House intends to release Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout as part of a swap.
American female basketball player Griner was detained in Moscow in February when authorities found an e-cigarette containing cannabis oil in her luggage, leading to drug smuggling charges. Former US Marine Whelan was arrested in December 2018 at a Moscow hotel and was convicted of espionage by a Russian court in June 2020.
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