The United States remains hopeful that Moscow will accept a deal to free basketball player Brittney Griner, who has been sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison.

The Olympic gold medalist was handed her sentence in a Russian court on Thursday, in a case that has raised concerns that the basketball star is being used as a political pawn in the ongoing war with Ukraine.

Griner had admitted to possessing cannabis oil when she landed at the Moscow Airport back in February, but told the court she had made an “honest mistake”.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov today said Moscow is ready to discuss the topic.