For the first time since WNBA star Brittney Griner was arrested on drug charges in February, Russia has confirmed that prisoner swap negotiations with the United States are taking place. On Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ivan Nechayev confirmed that negotiations between the two countries were underway. MORE: Kremlin says Brittney Griner swap must be discussed without publicityGriner was sentenced last week to nine years in a Russian prison after being convicted of drug possession and drug smuggling. MORE: Brittney Griner prisoner swap for 'Merchant of Death' on the table, Russian media claimsFollowing Griner’s sentencing, President Biden called the verdict "unacceptable" and reiterated that Griner was wrongfully detained. "Today, American citizen Brittney Griner received a prison sentence that is one more reminder of what the world already knew: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney," Biden said in a statement.

Source: Fox News August 11, 2022 19:21 UTC