The Latest Breaking News from Brittney Griner

Talks between Russia and the United States on securing an exchange of high-profile prisoners are making only sporadic progress, a top Russian diplomat said in comments published on Thursday.

The inmates at IK-2 penal colony rise at 6 a.m. each day for a breakfast of milk porridge, bread and tea. Soon they leave their barracks at this aging facility about 300 miles southeast of Moscow, in the isolated republic of Mordovia.

Family says they have missed a scheduled call with Mr Whelan, who has been imprisoned in a Russian camp for more than two years

The United States is "deeply concerned" about detained American Paul Whelan in Russia, and has not been able to get information from Moscow on his whereabouts or condition, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Wednesday.

Family of Paul Whelan, jailed on espionage charges in Russia, says they have not heard from him in days.

The brother of Paul Whelan, an American jailed in Russia, said on Wednesday his family was concerned about his whereabouts as they had not heard from him for days and had received unclear messages from prison staff that he was moved to the prison hospital.

The Russian Foreign Ministry was not currently engaged in any dialogue on the subject with the United States.

Russia and the United States have repeatedly been on the verge of agreement on a prisoner exchange, a senior Russian diplomat said Tuesday, adding that a deal is still possible before the year's end. The Biden administration has been trying for months to negotiate the release of WNBA star Brittney…

A senior Russian diplomat says that Russia and the United States have repeatedly come close to reaching agreement on a prisoner exchange and a deal remains possible before the year’s end