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Witkoff raised Karelina's case with Putin -US official

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U.S.-Russian talks on Ukraine peace to resume soon

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Witkoff to travel to Moscow again soon

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Swap took place in United Arab Emirates

(New throughout, adds details and background)

By Lucy Papachristou, Guy Faulconbridge and Steve Holland

MOSCOW/WASHINGTON, April 10 (Reuters) -

Russia released a ballerina from Los Angeles on Thursday who

had been sentenced to 12 years in jail for donating to a charity

aiding Ukraine, in exchange for a man the U.S. had accused of

crafting a global smuggling ring to spirit sensitive electronics

to Russia's military.

The exchange, which took place on the tarmac of Abu Dhabi

airport, indicates significant detailed contacts between

President Vladimir Putin's Kremlin and the administration of

U.S. President Donald Trump, who says he wants to strike a peace

deal to end the war in Ukraine.

Footage on Russian state television showed Ksenia Karelina

flying out of Russia. She is a dual citizen who a Russian court

found guilty last year of treason for donating $51.80 to a

U.S.-based charity providing humanitarian support to Ukraine.

A U.S. official said Karelina was expected to arrive at

Joint Base Andrews, in Maryland, late on Thursday.

Arthur Petrov, a dual German-Russian citizen arrested in

2023 in Cyprus at the request of the U.S. for allegedly

exporting sensitive microelectronics, was shown walking past

Karelina towards a Russian plane where he underwent medical

check-ups, complaining only of fatigue.

"Petrov was exchanged for U.S. citizen Ksenia Karelina, who

also holds Russian citizenship and was sentenced to 12 years in

a penal colony for treason in the form of financial assistance

to a foreign state," Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB),

the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB, said.

"We express our gratitude to the UAE leadership for their

assistance," the FSB said. The UAE posted a picture of Karelina

on the tarmac in Abu Dhabi beside a Russian plane.

A U.S. official told Reuters that U.S. special envoy Steve

Witkoff brought up the case of Karelina with Putin during a call

last week and that Putin's reaction was to "do something as a

goodwill gesture because he wants to settle the war."

U.S. talks with Russia and Ukraine about ending the war were

to continue and Witkoff would travel to Russia soon, said the

official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio was also involved in the

negotiations, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe brought the deal

over the finish line, a second U.S. official said.

Trump publicly thanked Russia for the release of the

ballerina. He said he had received a call advocating for her

release from a friend, UFC Chairman Dana White. Karelina's

boyfriend is UFC fighter Chris van Heerden.

"They released the young ballerina, and she is now out, and

that was great. So we appreciate that. We hope that we're going

to be able to make a deal relatively soon with Russia and

Ukraine to stop the fighting," Trump told reporters.

Two sources close to the swap who spoke on condition of

anonymity said that Putin's special envoy for international

economic cooperation, Kirill Dmitriev, played a role in

discussions.

Dmitriev, a Stanford University-educated former Goldman

Sachs investment banker, is one of the most U.S.-savvy members

of Russia's elite, with close relations to some key members of

the Trump team. He met Witkoff in Washington last week.

LOVE AND SMUGGLING

Beyond the spymasters and high intrigue of Russian-U.S.

relations, Karelina's boyfriend expressed joy and thanked Trump

for his efforts to secure her release, saying their dog was

awaiting her return.

"I am overjoyed to hear that the love of my life, Ksenia

Karelina, is on her way home from wrongful detention in Russia,"

Van Heerden said. "I cannot wait to hold her. Our dog, Boots, is

also eagerly awaiting her return."

The U.S. lists a number of Americans - some dual citizens -

who are in jail in Russia, including Stephen Hubbard who

Washington has officially declared as wrongfully detained.

U.S. teacher Marc Fogel was released from a Russian prison

in February during a visit by Witkoff to Moscow. Saudi Crown

Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Dmitriev were involved in those

negotiations.

In August last year, the U.S. and Russia carried out their

biggest prisoner swap since the Cold War, with 24 prisoners

gaining their freedom, including U.S. journalist Evan

Gershkovich and ex-U.S. Marine Paul Whelan.

The U.S. Justice Department said last year that Petrov had

participated in a scheme to procure U.S.-sourced

microelectronics for manufacturers supplying weaponry and other

equipment to the Russian military.

The Justice Department said that Petrov had formed an

elaborate tech-smuggling syndicate which spirited sensitive

technology to Russia's military-industrial complex through a web

of shell companies. Petrov was unavailable for comment.