Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, previously holding the position from 1999 until 2008. He was also the Prime Minister of Russia from 1999 to 2000 and again from 2008 to 2012.
Biden Says He'll Meet With Putin Only to Discuss Brittney Griner
President Joe Biden says he’ll meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin at next month’s G-20 Summit only if Putin’s willing to discuss the release of out American WNBA star Brittney Griner.“Look, I have no intention of meeting with him, but look, if he came to me at the G-20 and said, ‘I want to talk about the release of Griner,’ I would meet with him, but that would depend,” Biden told Jake Tapper on CNN Tuesday.Griner's attorney told the New York Times that Griner is not optimistic at the moment. “She is not yet absolutely convinced that America will be able to take her home,” Alexandr Boykov said.
He told the Times that he had spoken to Griner on Tuesday. “She is very worried about what the price of that will be, and she is afraid that she will have to serve the whole sentence here in Russia.”Griner has been sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison after being convicted of possessing a controlled substance.
The Phoenix Mercury center arrived in Russia in February to play for a team in that nation during the WNBA off-season and was arrested because she had vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage.She said she uses the substance to ease her chronic pain but had never used it in Russia and had brought it into the country by mistake.
Her legal team has appealed her sentence, and the U.S. government has asserted she was wrongfully detained in Russia. Some observers have asserted Russia is using her as a pawn related to its war on Ukraine.Biden has been in touch with Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, and other members of the athlete’s family.
