Charles Maynes

The Kremlin says it's open to talking about a trade for U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner. It warned Washington against using the media in negotiations over a swap.

A Russian court found Brittney Griner guilty on drug smuggling and possession charges. She was sentenced to more than nine years in prison. The Biden administration is working to secure her release.

A Russian court gave American basketball star Brittney Griner a stiff sentence for possession of hash oil - setting the stage of for ongoing negotiations over a possible prisoner exchange with the US.

The widely expected verdict comes nearly six months after the WNBA star was arrested at a Moscow-area airport with cannabis vape cartridges in her luggage.

The WNBA star took the stand in Russian court Wednesday to explain why she had vape cartridges in the first place, how they ended up in her luggage and what happened after they were discovered.

WNBA star Britney Griner returns to court Wednesday. She's pleaded guilty to smuggling vape cartridges with hash oil into the country, but says she didn't intentionally break Russian law.

Russia says it will pull out of the International Space Station after 2024. This echoes intentions previously set by Russia and comes amid tensions with the U.S. and the West over the war in Ukraine.

Amid NATO's expansion, and sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine, there's increasing tension in Russia's Kaliningrad region, which is geographically isolated from the rest of the country.

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Russian has blocked shipment of grain. Negotiations have taken place for weeks, mediated by Turkey and the U.N., to oversee safe passage of the shipments.

Brittney Griner's defense argued her case and defended her character in a Russian court on Thursday, one week after the WNBA star pleaded guilty to drug charges.