Russia says it expects "positive result" in Griner prisoner swap talks

Catch up quick: Bout was one of the most wanted men in the world for his arms trafficking over two decades, Reuters reports.

• Bout was arrested in a sting operation in 2008 and convicted in a U.S. court in 2012 for supplying weapons to a terrorist organization and conspiring to kill Americans. He is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence.

What they're saying: "I want to hope that the prospect not only remains but is being strengthened, and that the moment will come when we will get a concrete agreement," said Sergei Ryabkov, Russia's deputy foreign minister, per Interfax.

• "The Americans demonstrate some external activity, we work professionally on a special channel designed for this," Ryabkov said.

• "So far, we have not come to a common denominator, but it is indisputable that Viktor Bout is among those who are being discussed, and we certainly expect a positive result."

Flashback: The Biden administration said in July said the U.S. made a "substantial proposal" to bring home Griner and Whelan.

• At the time, Russia indicated its interest in including Bout in a potential prisoner swap involving Griner and Whelan, but no deal was reached.

Go deeper... Brittany Griner: What the WNBA star could face in a Russian penal colony