Russia wouldn’t release him alongside Brittney Griner unless the US swapped a Russian spy — one who is serving a life sentence for murder in Germany

Russia refused to release Paul Whelan alongside Brittney Griner unless a former colonel from Russia’s domestic spy organization currently in German custody was also released as part of any prisoner swap, US officials told CNN, even as the US offered up the names of several other Russian prisoners in US custody that they would be willing to trade.