[ad_1]
The White House on Thursday disputed a joint statement from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia that said the two were involved in mediation efforts related to Britney Griner’s release from Russian custody.
Earlier Thursday, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs touted Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the release of Brittney Griner in exchange for the convicted Russian Arms dealer Viktor Bout.
But White House press secretary Karin Jean-Pierre disputed that claim, telling reporters that “the only countries that have negotiated a deal are the United States and Russia.” It marks a sharp disconnect between what Saudi-UAE Joint Statement Efforts to talk about and explain to the United States.
Asked about the joint statement from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Jean-Pierre stressed that she had nothing to share except that “only the United States and Russia negotiated this agreement without mediation”.
She added that the U.S. is grateful to the UAE for facilitating exchanges on their territory, and to other countries, including Saudi Arabia, for raising the issue of the Russian government’s wrongful detention of Americans.
“But in terms of her release, it’s between the U.S. government and Russia,” she added.
Shortly after news of Griner’s release was announced on Thursday, a senior administration official was on a background call Provides more details on the Griner release.
Roger Carstens, the State Department’s special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, met Greiner on the tarmac in the UAE, who accompanied her back to the United States
[ad_2]
Source link