In a dramatic turn of events, Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden welcomed Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan back to the United States late on Friday.
The two Americans, who had been imprisoned in Russia, returned to US soil just before midnight, marking the end of a tense and high-stakes prisoner swap.
As Harris and Biden embraced the former prisoners, Harris made a speech that left some scratching their heads. She intended to highlight the significance of diplomacy but ended up delivering a somewhat muddled statement.
“This is just an extraordinary testament to the importance of having a president who understands the power of diplomacy and understands the strength that rests in understanding the significance of diplomacy,” she said.
The plane carrying Gershkovich, a 32-year-old Wall Street Journal reporter, and Whelan, a 54-year-old former Marine, landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
Their journey began in Ankara, Turkey, where they boarded a plane after a four-hour flight from Moscow. Gershkovich had been wrongfully accused of espionage and detained in Russia since March of the previous year.
Whelan, who was convicted on spying charges in 2020, had been in captivity for over five years.
Alongside Gershkovich and Whelan, Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva was also released.
She had been sentenced to over six years in prison in a secret trial just last month.
Upon arriving in the US, Kurmasheva was seen joyfully reuniting with her family and receiving warm embraces from Harris and Biden.
Whelan was the first to step off the plane, followed by Gershkovich and Kurmasheva.
Each was greeted by their families with hugs and cheers, marking the end of their long periods of separation.
The President’s Remarks
Before the landing, President Biden addressed the situation from the White House, calling the event a historic moment. He praised the successful negotiation and the diplomatic efforts that led to the prisoners’ release.
“Their brutal ordeal is over, and they’re free,” Biden declared. He also mentioned having spoken with the freed individuals and expressed his satisfaction with the outcome.
Global Reactions
In Russia, the release was portrayed as a significant victory, with President Vladimir Putin reuniting with eight Russian nationals who had been imprisoned abroad.
The swap also included several cyber criminals and accused spies who were returned to Russia from various countries.
A Triumphant Homecoming
As the reunited prisoners were celebrated on the tarmac, a jubilant Biden told reporters, “I was absolutely convinced we could get it done.” Gershkovich, overwhelmed by the support of his Wall Street Journal colleagues, simply stated, “I’m home.”
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