President Joe Biden had meetings at the White House on Friday with family members of two Americans who have been detained in Russia.
The president first met with Elizabeth Whelan, sister of former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, then with Cherelle Griner, the wife of WNBA star Brittney Griner, and Griner’s agent Lindsay Colas, the White House said. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan joined Biden in both meetings.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in August that the U.S. had made a “substantial” proposal to Russia to try to secure Griner and Whelan’s release.
