How the UAE helped the U.S. with Brittney Griner’s release

UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed’s assembly with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg in October helped give a renewed push to the negotiations between the U.S. and Russia that ultimately led to the discharge of basketball star Brittney Griner, a supply with direct information of the difficulty informed Axios.

The large image: The UAE’s efforts to facilitate Griner’s launch have been a part of a wider technique by the Emiratis to make use of its relations with the U.S. and Russia to assist resolve particular points associated to the battle in Ukraine, the supply mentioned.

Behind the scenes: The negotiations on the prisoner swap have been achieved instantly between the U.S. and Russia, however in early October, the 2 sides gave the impression to be at a stalemate. The Russians had rejected each U.S. prisoner swap proposal that included each Griner and jailed American Paul Whelan, a senior administration official informed reporters final week.

• As bin Zayed, often called MBZ, ready his journey to Russia, he started planning the problems he would increase with Putin, together with doable prisoner swaps, the state of affairs at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy plant, and the standing of the Sumy ammonia plant, in line with the supply.
• The supply mentioned that Emirati officers mentioned the deliberate assembly prematurely with the Biden administration and informed the U.S. they have been going to lift the difficulty of prisoner swaps and Griner’s case particularly.

When MBZ met Putin on Oct. 11, he informed the Russian president that the UAE would attempt to assist facilitate the doable state of affairs during which Griner was swapped for arms seller Viktor Bout.

• That assembly helped jump-start the U.S.-Russia negotiations once more, in line with the supply.

Between the traces: The supply mentioned that the UAE didn’t negotiate the phrases of the deal, nevertheless it did assist put collectively the choreography for its implementation.

• Due to the poor relations between the U.S. and Russia and the political prices, neither nation wished to make a direct swap and wanted a 3rd get together to facilitate it, in line with the supply.
• The supply mentioned that for a number of weeks, the UAE spoke individually with the U.S. and Russia to construct a plan for implementing the potential swap. Making the swap in Abu Dhabi was a part of it.

• A day earlier than the swap, MBZ spoke to Putin to shut the final particulars. Solely then it was clear that the deal was going ahead, the supply mentioned. The time for the swap was set for Dec. 8 at 4pm in Abu Dhabi.

What they’re saying: The White Home referred me to statements final week by U.S. officers. President Biden final week thanked the UAE “for serving to to facilitate” Griner’s return.

• The senior administration official informed reporters final week the U.S. requested a number of governments to lift the difficulty of Griner’s launch with the Russians.
• Biden made the choice to go forward with the one-for-one swap within the week earlier than Griner’s launch, White Home Nationwide Safety Council spokesperson John Kirby informed reporters on Thursday.
• An Emirati official declined to touch upon the specifics of the UAE’s position, however the nation issued an announcement final week saying the “success” of its efforts.

What’s subsequent: MBZ needs to proceed to push for extra prisoner swaps between Russia and Ukraine, the supply mentioned. The Emiratis hope this might result in extra substantial diplomacy between Russia and Ukraine.