Freed Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout says he 'wholeheartedly' supports Ukraine war and would volunteer if he could - CNN

CNN  — 

Freed Russian arms trader Viktor Bout said connected Saturday helium “wholeheartedly” supports Moscow’s alleged “military operation” successful Ukraine and that if helium had the accidental and indispensable skills, helium would “certainly spell arsenic a volunteer.”

Bout, nicknamed the “Merchant of Death” by his accusers, was released Thursday from US detention successful a captive swap for US hoops prima Brittney Griner.

Bout made the remarks successful a video interrogation with Kremlin-controlled TV web RT. He was interviewed by Maria Butina, a Russian gun-rights enthusiast-turned TV property who present works for the network.

In the interview, helium denied immoderate connections with the Taliban and that helium supplied arms to Afghanistan.

When asked if helium had a representation of President Vladimir Putin successful his situation cell, Bout said: “Yes, always. Why not? I’m arrogant that I’m Russian and that our president is Putin.”

The erstwhile Soviet subject serviceman was serving a 25-year situation condemnation successful the United States connected charges of conspiring to termination Americans, get and export anti-aircraft missiles, and supply worldly enactment to a violent organization. Bout, who had maintained his innocence, is believed to beryllium successful his 50s, with his property successful quality due to the fact that of antithetic passports and documents.

Griner, 32, returned to the United States aboriginal Friday aft being released from custody successful an speech for an planetary arms dealer. She was “in bully spirits” and “incredibly gracious,” National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told CNN.

Griner – who had played successful the off-season for a Russian women’s hoops squad – was arrested connected drugs charges astatine an airdrome successful the Moscow portion successful February. Despite her grounds that she had inadvertently packed the cannabis lipid recovered successful her luggage, she was sentenced to 9 years successful situation successful aboriginal August and moved to a penal colony successful Mordovia successful mid-November aft losing her appeal.

The swap, which US President Joe Biden confirmed connected Thursday, did not see different American that the State Department has declared wrongfully detained, Paul Whelan. Whelan was arrested connected alleged espionage charges successful 2018 and sentenced to 16 years successful situation successful a proceedings that US officials person called unfair.

The families of Griner and Whelan had urged the White House to unafraid their release, including via captive speech if necessary.