A plane carrying three Americans released by Russia in a complex prisoner exchange landed at an Air Force base outside the capital Washington late Thursday.
The exchange mediated by Turkey freed 26 people held in seven countries, including the United States, Russia, Germany and Belarus. The White House and other sources said 16 of them were released from Russia.
The three freed Americans include Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan.
They were welcomed by US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as their families.
Biden called the release a “feat of diplomacy and friendship.” He said, “Alliances make a difference,” adding that US allies stepped up and took a chance for the US.
Harris, who is expected to be nominated as the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, said to reporters, “This is just an extraordinary testament to the importance of having a president who understands the power of diplomacy,” adding who also understands the strength of reinforced alliances.
Western media say it was one of the biggest prisoner exchanges since the end of the Cold War.