Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva are home in the United States after being detained in a Russian prison for several years.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris greeted the three at Joint Base Andrews late Thursday evening.
The Americans were part of a historic prisoner exchange, which involves 24 people, including five Germans and seven Russian citizens held in Russia, and eight Russians imprisoned in the U.S., Germany, Slovenia, Norway and Poland.
The swap is the the largest of its kind since the Cold War and one in which Biden was directly involved in — even on the day he announced he was exiting the 2024 race.
Addressing reporters after greeting the Americans, Biden gave special notice and thanks to Germany and Slovenia.
“The toughest call on this one was for other countries because I asked them to do things that were against their self-interest, especially Germany and Slovenia,” Biden said.
When asked by reporters if this deal makes it more likely Americans will be imprisoned in Russia, Biden answered, “That’s been the case for all history. My job is to make sure, No. 1, they don’t get them, and if they do, we get them back.”
A reporter asked Biden was his message to Russian President Vladimir Putin was and he gave a one-worded stern answer.
“Stop,” he said.
Biden had been monitoring the situation “in near real time” and received updates from his national security team, according to a senior administration official.
“This is an extraordinary testament to the importance of having a president who understands the power of diplomacy,” Harris said to reporters Thursday night of the deal.
The three Americans will now be flown to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, to receive care at Brooke Army Medical Center, according to a senior administration official.
