Kremlin: Griner-Bout swap not sign of improving U.S.-Russia relations

The Kremlin said on Friday that the prisoner exchange deal to swap Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner should not be seen as a step towards improving bilateral relations between Moscow and Washington, Russian state news agencies reported.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said relations between the two countries remained in a "sorry state," the TASS news agency reported.