“For you I will do this.”[1] Words from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to President Biden. Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević spoke with President Biden one-hour before the deal was announced securing the final piece needed for the largest prisoner exchange since the cold war.[2]
Two years of complex negotiations led to the release of Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, and Alusa Kurmasheva who arrived at Joint Base Andrews just before midnight on Thursday. [3],[4]
The deal also led to the release of thirteen Russian prisoners of conscience.[5]
Unfortunately, history teacher Marc Fogel was not part of the prisoner swap.
“The deal that made this possible was a feat of diplomacy and friendship,” President Joe Biden said in remarks from the White House on Thursday. “Multiple countries helped get this done. They joined difficult, complex negotiations at my request.”[6]
In total, six countries released prisoners, with Turkey hosting the swap in Ankara.
The deal would not have occurred without President Bidens leadership and deep relationships with world leaders. As Chancellor Scholz said, “For you I will do this.”[7]
The deal required difficult decisions by the German and Serbian leaders. Germany agreed to exchange a convicted assassin and Serbia agreed to release of two sleeper agents.[8]
Diplomacy and trust are crucial in maintaining America’s position as leader of the free world. As Jake Sullivan said on Good Morning America, “This was the United States of America at our best, working with our allies to bring home our people.”6
Ex-President Trump has neither the trust nor the confidence of our allies.[9] J.D. Vance has no experience in or understanding of foreign relations.[10]
Trump had four years to bring the American prisoners home. He failed.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-says-not-easy-decision-release-russian-murderer-2024-08-01/
[2] https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/evan-gershkovich-free-russia-hostage-exchange/card/gershkovich-released-in-biggest-east-west-prisoner-swap-since-the-cold-war-NFLW3KEXby9mlwYQrFsL
[3] https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/biden-administration-says-prisoner-exchange-took-years-of-complex-negotiations-with-russia
[4] https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/02/biden-harris-greet-us-america-russia-prisoner-exchange?utm_term=66acb52b26dc92cfb0072592dd720c15&utm_campaign=USMorningBriefing&utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&CMP=usbriefing_email
[6] https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2024/08/01/remarks-by-president-biden-on-freeing-americans-detained-in-russia/
[7] https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/01/politics/inside-painstaking-negotiations-russia-us-prisoner-swap/index.html
[8] https://www.euronews.com/2024/08/02/three-newly-freed-americans-back-on-us-soil-after-landmark-prisoner-exchange-with-russia
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