Lavrov, Blinken hold first call in months
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday held a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and pressed the Kremlin to accept the 'substantial proposal' that Washington has put forward to secure the release of two Americans detained in Russia. In their first such conversation since Russia's attack on Ukraine on February 24, the two top diplomats looked to stick to their existing positions, according to the readout of the call from Blinken and the Russian foreign ministry. "We had a frank and direct conversation," Blinken told a news conference at the State Department. "I pressed the Kremlin to accept the substantial proposal that we put forth on the release of Paul Whelan and Brittney Griner," he said. Their discussion came as a source familiar with the proceedings said Russia tried to add convicted murderer Vadim Krasikov to the proposed swap. US officials did not view the idea seriously since Krasikov is in German custody, among other reasons, said the source, confirming a CNN report. While not getting into the details, the White House National Security Council dismissed the offer. "Holding two wrongfully detained Americans hostage for the release of a Russian assassin in a third country’s custody is not a serious counter-offer. It is a bad faith attempt to avoid the deal on the table that Russia should take," said National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson. A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the call lasted about 25 minutes and it was "without polemics and was businesslike." Lavrov suggested to Blinken that the two sides return to quiet diplomacy on the issue of prisoner swaps. "Regarding the possible exchange of imprisoned Russian and US citizens, the Russian side strongly suggested a return to the practice of handling this in a professional way and using 'quiet diplomacy' rather than throwing out speculative information," a Russian foreign ministry statement said. The United States this week announced that it made an offer to Russia, weeks ago, to secure the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner and former US Marine Paul Whelan but did not reveal what it was offering. A source familiar with the situation said Washington was willing to exchange Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout, who is serving a 25 year-prison sentence in the United States, as part of a deal. (Reuters)