(COMBO) This combination of pictures created on July 28, 2022 shows (FILES) In this file photo taken on February 16, 2010 Russian Viktor Bout, the alleged arms dealer, looks on while standing in a cell at the Criminal Court in Bangkok. (FILES) In this file photo taken on July 27, 2022 US WNBA basketball superstar Brittney Griner sits inside a defendants' cage before a hearing at the Khimki Court, outside Moscow. (FILES) In this file photo taken on January 22, 2019 Paul Whelan, a former US Marine accused of espionage and arrested in Russia, stands inside a defendants' cage during a hearing at a court in Moscow. A Russian arms trafficker who is serving a 25-year jail term in the United States knows nothing about a possible exchange with two US prisoners in Russia, his wife said. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on July 27, 2022 that Washington had made a "substantial proposal" to Moscow to free basketball star Brittney Griner and former US Marine Paul Whelan. He declined to confirm reports that the United States was offering to trade them for convicted trafficker Victor Bout. Bout, 55, is the highest-profile Russian prisoner serving time in the US and inspired the 2005 arms smuggling movie "Lord of War" starring Nicholas Cage.He was dubbed the "Merchant of Death" by former British minister Peter Hain for supplying weapons to war-torn Angola and Liberia.,Image: 710361010, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Profimedia

US WNBA basketball superstar Brittney Griner arrives to a hearing at the Khimki Court, outside Moscow on July 27, 2022. Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and WNBA champion, was detained at Moscow airport in February on charges of carrying in her luggage vape cartridges with cannabis oil, which could carry a 10-year prison sentence.,Image: 710192395, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Profimedia

July 27, 2022: The Biden administration has allegedly proposed returning convicted arms merchant Viktor Bout to Russia in exchange for the release of detained American Brittney Griner, according to officials. FILE PHOTO SHOT ON: October 4, 2010, Bangkok, Thailand: Alleged Russian arms dealer VIKTOR BOUT, also known as 'Merchant of Death', is escorted by special police unit as he arrives at the Ratchada criminal court in Bangkok for important hearing that could determine if he will be extradited to the United State. Viktor Bout was arrested in cooperation with US authorities in 2008.,Image: 81562374, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Bout Viktor, Credit line: Profimedia

United States' Brittney Griner (15), left, attempts to shoot past Nigeria's Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah (3), right, during women's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)