The massive U.S.-Russia prisoner swap that included journalist Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan was a “feat of diplomacy and friendship,” President Joe Biden said in an address Thursday at the White House.
“It would not have been made possible without our allies,” Biden said. “Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Turkey, they all stepped up.”
The exchange is the biggest U.S.-Russia prisoner swap since the end of the Cold War.
Gershkovich and Whelan, who had been convicted of espionage charges in Moscow, were considered wrongfully detained by the U.S. government.
In total, 24 people will be exchanged between the U.S., Germany, Slovenia, Norway and Poland. Russia will receive eight alleged intelligence agents who were jailed in the five countries.
This video was produced by Casey Kuhn, Yasmeen Alamiri and Steff Staples.
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