Harris and Biden greet prisoners released from Russia as Trump trashes swap deal

Critics fear that freeing Russians convicted of serious crimes could encourage more hostage-taking by US foes.

“I remain concerned that continuing to trade innocent Americans for actual Russian criminals held in the US and elsewhere sends a dangerous message to Putin that only encourages further hostage-taking by his regime,” Michael McCaul, the Republican chair of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement.

The multi-country deal appeared to be a one-time exchange that does not reset the antagonistic US-Russia relationship, which has deteriorated sharply since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

US deputy national security adviser Jon Finer said Washington-Moscow ties remain “in a very difficult place” despite the swap. “There was no trust involved in this relationship or negotiation,” Mr Finer told broadcaster CNN.

Justin Rohrlich takes a look at the behind-the-scenes operation, as documented in meticulous detail by The Wall Street Journal, to get the detained Americans and others released.

The freed Americans – Evan Gershkovich and fellow American Paul Whelan, along with dissidents including Vladimir Kara-Murza – took selfies with family members and friends, shared hugs with president Joe Biden and vice president Kamala Harris, patted loved ones on the back and smothered them with kisses.

At one point, Mr Biden gave Whelan the flag pin off his own lapel.

‘Wonderful’ to greet freed Americans,” said Mr Biden.

He gave giving special credit to the cooperation of nations including Germany and Slovenia for helping to make the global prisoner swap work, saying they agreed to difficult things that were “against their self-interests.”

Speaking on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews, Mr Biden rejected the idea that such swaps could lead to other Americans being detained. “I don’t buy this idea of … let these people rot in jail because other people may be captured,” the president said.

Vice president Kamala Harris called the deal an “extraordinary testament to the importance of having a president who understands the power of diplomacy”.

The White House said it negotiated the high profile trade of 24 prisoners with Russia alongside Germany and three other countries. The deal, negotiated in secrecy for more than a year, involved 16 prisoners moving from Russia to the West and eight sent back to Russia from the West.

They included Vadim Krasikov, convicted of murdering an exiled dissident in Berlin, the German government said.

US president Joe Biden hailed the deal as “a feat of diplomacy and friendship” and praised Washington’s allies for their “bold and brave decisions.”

Mr Biden and vice president Kamala Harris greeted freed Americans Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan and journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, as well as Russian-British dissident and US resident Vladimir Kara-Murza, as they arrived at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, shortly before midnight.

Russian president Vladimir Putin met the prisoners returning to Russia on their arrival in Moscow, saying they would be given state awards.

“Today is a powerful example of why it’s vital to have friends in this world,” Mr Biden said earlier at the White House, flanked by relatives of freed prisoners.

Mr Biden expressed gratitude to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who made the politically difficult choice to release Krasikov.

Kamala Harris praised Joe Biden after the pair welcomed back the released Americans to US soil, saying he successfully secured their release by facilitating an ambitious, multinational prisoner swap.

“This is an extraordinary day. And I’m very thankful for our president, and what he has done this entire career, but in particular, as it relates to these families and these individuals,” she said.

Journalist Evan Gershkovich and fellow American Paul Whelan, along with dissidents including Vladimir Kara-Murza arrived on American soil shortly before midnight for a joyful reunion with their families.

President Joe Biden and vice president Kamala Harris were also there to greet them and dispense hugs all around.

In a seemingly indirect swing at former president Donald Trump’s skills to negotiate political deals, Ms Harris said: “This one, this is just an extraordinary testament to the importance of having a president who understands the power of diplomacy. And understands the strength that rest in understanding the significance of diplomacy.”

Speaking to the media after greeting the returning Americans, Joe Biden hailed the exchange – by far the largest in a series of swaps with Russia – as a diplomatic feat involving several Western allies.

“It feels wonderful, it was a long time coming. I meant what I said, alliances make a difference, [allies] stepped up and took a chance for us,” he said.

“I asked them to do some things that were against their immediate self interest. And really very difficult for them to do, particularly Germany and Slovenia.”

The US and its allies gave up Russians charged or convicted of serious crimes in exchange for Russia releasing journalists, dissidents and others imprisoned by the country’s highly politicised legal system on charges seen by the West as trumped-up.

The release of a group of Americans and other westerners held in Russian detention provided a jolt of energy for an unsuspecting figure on Thursday: President Joe Biden, whose relevance as commander-in-chief has suddenly been sharply reinforced for a national news media with a short attention span. A total of 16 captives held by Russia were released, including former US Marine Paul Whelan, journalist Evan Gershkovich, and British-Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza.

It was a clear political victory for Biden at an unexpected time. He is still reeling from the political effects of withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race just weeks before his party’s national convention. Kamala Harris, his vice president, is now the presumptive nominee and has taken on a starring role in the campaign as well as back home in Washington.

And this victory couldn’t have come at a better time.

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, security executive Paul Whelan and radio journalist Alsu Kurmasheva landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland at 11.37pm on a chartered plane from Ankara, in Turkey.

Biden was the first to greet each of the three as they stepped down off the plane, followed by Harris, and then there were scenes of joyful reunion with their families.

Whelan exited first, shaking hands with the president and asking him: “How you doing, sir?” He then hugged his sister to applause from those gathered on the tarmac.

Gershkovich followed, and then Kurmasheva. Biden said “ happy birthday“ to the radio journalist’s daughter, who ran up to her mother crying, saying: “I love you so much, I can’t believe you’re here.” Her husband added: “This is real.”