Biden and Harris Welcome Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan Home

Emotional Reunion: Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan Welcomed by Biden and Harris After Landing in the U.S.

Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, and Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva have safely returned to the U.S. soil. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris greeted them upon their arrival at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington.

The return of these Americans was part of an extraordinary 24-prisoner exchange involving Russia, the United States, and several other countries, marking the largest such exchange since the Cold War. This intricate deal, which saw President Biden's direct involvement, allowed the wrongfully detained Gershkovich and Whelan to come home.

Addressing the press after greeting the returning Americans, President Biden acknowledged the critical support of Germany and Slovenia in making the exchange possible. "The toughest call on this one was for other countries because I asked them to do things that were against their self-interest," he said.

When questioned about whether such exchanges might encourage the detention of more Americans abroad, Biden remarked, "That's been the case for all history. My job is to make sure, No. 1, they don't get them, and if they do, we get them back."

After their arrival, the returning Americans and their families were offered a flight to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, for post-isolation support at San Antonio Brooke Army Medical Center.

This complex exchange was the culmination of months of detailed negotiations, as highlighted by national security adviser Jake Sullivan. "Some of these women and men have been unjustly held for years. All have endured unimaginable suffering and uncertainty. Today, their agony is over," Biden said in a statement.

"This is a very good afternoon," Biden added in remarks at the White House, surrounded by the families of those freed. "Moments ago, the families and I were able to speak to them on the telephone from the Oval Office. They're out of Russia." He praised the deal as a "feat of diplomacy and friendship," crediting the efforts of allies like Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Turkey in making it possible.

This historic exchange not only freed Gershkovich and Whelan but also secured the release of Kurmasheva and Vladimir Kara-Murza, a U.S. legal permanent resident. The planes carrying the freed prisoners were seen arriving at Turkey's Ankara Airport earlier on Thursday, as reported by the Associated Press.