U.S. President Joe Biden met with family members of basketball star Brittney Griner and fellow U.S. citizen Paul Whelan, the first face-to-face encounter that the president has had with the relatives.
In separate Oval Office meetings on September 16, Biden conferred with Whelan's sister, Elizabeth Whelan, and then Cherelle Griner, the wife of the Olympic gold medalist.
In a statement after the meetings, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden stressed to the families his “continued commitment to working through all available avenues to bring Brittney and Paul home safely.”
“He asked after the well-being of Elizabeth and Cherelle and their respective families during this painful time," Jean-Pierre said. “The president appreciated the opportunity to learn more about Brittney and Paul from those who love them most, and acknowledged that every minute they are being held is a minute too long.”
Earlier in the day, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that "discussions are ongoing" to secure Griner's release.
"The president is not going to let up. He's confident that this is going to remain at the forefront of his mind and his team's mind," Kirby said.
Cherelle Griner, in a statement released by her wife's agent, thanked Biden for the meeting and his "administration's efforts to secure her release."
"I've felt every minute of the grueling seven months without her," she said.
The U.S. government says Russia has wrongfully detained Griner and Whelan and has assigned their cases to the office of its top hostage negotiator.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken two months ago announced that the administration had made a substantial proposal to Russia.
Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) player, has been held in Russia since February on drug-related charges. She was sentenced last month to nine years in prison, a verdict that Biden called “unacceptable.”
Whelan was convicted of spying in 2020 and is serving a 16-year sentence. The former U.S. Marine and corporate security executive and his family say the charges against him are false.
The Russians have indicated that they are open to negotiations but have also said it would be more appropriate to keep the talks private. Negotiations have been complicated by the tense relations between Washington and Moscow over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
News reports quoting U.S. sources have said the Russian would swap Griner and Whelan for arms dealer Viktor Bout, who currently is serving a 25-year sentence in the United States after being convicted of conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens and providing aid to a terrorist organization.