Last week, US basketball player Brittney Griner reached her home country on Friday after being released from a Russian prison in exchange for an arms dealer…reports Asian Lite News
A spokesperson for the US administration has confirmed that an American citizen detained by Russia during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war was released as Moscow and Kiev conducted a prisoner swap.
John Kirby, the National Security Council’s coordinator for strategic communications, told reporters during a virtual press gaggle that he could confirm “a US national has been transferred as part of a transfer of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine today (Wednesday)”, Xinhua news agency reported.
Hours before the confirmation from Kirby, Andriy Yermak, chief of staff of Ukraine’s presidential office, said in a post on social media platform Telegram that a prisoner swap between his country and Russia resulted in 64 soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces being returned.
It was also made possible the release of US national Suedi Murekezi, “who was helping our people”, Yermak said, adding that the bodies of four deceased Ukrainian soldiers were also released by Russia as part of the exchange.
Separately, Kirby said at the briefing that he could not confirm recent media reports that the US has been considering sending Ukraine the Patriot surface-to-air missile system, adding that the US administration is contemplating the next round of security assistance to Ukraine and prioritizing further bolstering Ukraine’s air-defence capabilities.
Last week, US basketball player Brittney Griner reached her home country on Friday after being released from a Russian prison in exchange for an arms dealer.
State Department Principal Deputy Secretary Vedant Patel said that the Griner arrived at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston and was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center for a health checkup.
“The US welcomes the release of Brittney Griner from detention in Russia. I believe you saw Special Envoy Carstens tweet about this late last night, but we can confirm that Brittney Griner arrived at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas earlier today and was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center for routine evaluation,” Vedant Patel said in a press briefing.
