MOSCOW — Russia praised Saudi Arabia and the UAE for helping to carry out the exchange of Russian Viktor Bout for US basketball player Brittney Griner, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.

"We can highly appreciate the role of both the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, which traditionally try to make a significant contribution to such processes," Peskov told the Izvestia newspaper.

When asked whether these states can contribute to the exchange of someone for US citizen Paul Whelan, the official said that "if necessary, the secret services will continue their work."

Russia released Griner from prison in exchange for the United States releasing Bout on Thursday. The latter was serving a 25-year sentence in the United States for alleged arms dealing. — Sputnik