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**Biden and Harris Welcome Released Prisoners in Exchange Deal with Russia**
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris welcomed the prisoners released by Russia under a swap deal at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington on Thursday evening, according to multiple American media outlets.
In the first exchange deal between Russia and Western countries since December 2022, a major prisoner swap was agreed upon on Thursday. This involved the release of at least 16 prisoners held by Russia in exchange for 8 Russians detained in the United States, Germany, Norway, Poland, and Slovenia.
**”Diplomatic Achievement”**
The White House stated that the United States negotiated the deal with Russia, Germany, and three other countries. President Biden hailed the deal as a “diplomatic achievement.”
The released prisoners returned to the United States on a plane that landed at approximately 11:40 PM (Friday 03:40 GMT) at the military base, where President Biden and Vice President Harris, who is a candidate for his successor in the upcoming November elections, welcomed them.
The list of released prisoners includes three Americans and a fourth who holds permanent residency in the United States, including journalist Evan Gershkovich, a correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, and former Marine Paul Whelan.
The list also includes five German citizens and seven Russian citizens who were political prisoners, many of whom worked with prominent Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who died in a Russian prison last February.
**”Welcome Home”**
According to The Washington Post, the plane arriving in the United States carried Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, and Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva.
Following the reception, President Biden addressed the journalists. Regarding his message to the released prisoners and their families, he said, “Welcome home.”
Biden added, according to The Washington Post, “My dad used to say that family is the beginning, the middle, and the end. And it truly is. It’s about who we are. It’s about who we are as a nation.”
When asked if he had a message for Russian President Vladimir Putin, Biden replied, “Stop.”
Addressing Americans, he said, “There is nothing beyond our capabilities when we work together. Nothing.”
For her part, Harris told reporters it was a “very good night,” emphasizing the “importance of building alliances and strengthening our power through diplomacy.”
She added, “This is an example of the power of American leadership in bringing nations together.”
**First Since 2022**
It is worth noting that this is the first exchange between Moscow and the West since the release of American basketball player Brittney Griner in December 2022 following her arrest in Russia on drug charges, in exchange for the release of well-known Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who was imprisoned in the United States.
A previous exchange in 2010 saw the release of 14 spies, including Russians Anna Chapman, who was sentenced in the United States, and Sergei Skripal, a double agent imprisoned in Russia.
There have been no major similar exchanges since 1985 and 1986, in the final years of the Cold War.
—by/radwa sherif ✏️✏️📚