President Joe Biden said Thursday that the largest prisoner swap since the end of the Cold War resulted from “a feat of diplomacy and friendship.”
With several family members of the freed prisoners beside him, Biden said he and the families were able to speak to the prisoners a few moments earlier on the phone from the Oval Office.
“They’re out of Russia,” he said. “Earlier today, they were flown to Turkey. Soon they will be wheels up on their way home to see their families. It’s an incredible relief.”
The exchange of 24 prisoners follows months of negotiations and marks a rare moment of cooperation between Russia and its geopolitical adversaries in the West after more than two years of war in Ukraine.
Turkish intelligence had announced it would help facilitate the exchange, including the release of 16 people from Russia, and eight individuals held in the U.S., Germany, Norway, Slovenia and Poland.
In classic Dark Brandon style, President Biden shanked the former guy on his way out.
Trump, who falsely portrays himself as master negotiator, criticized the deal.
It was Trump who authorized a $2 million payment to North Korea for Otto Warmbier. The 22-year-old was comatose upon arrival to the US, and later died like a dog.
JD Couch Vance called the prisoner exchange “great news,” but suggested the threat of a coming Trump administration put the fear into Putin.
“But we have to ask ourselves: Why are they coming home? And I think it’s because bad guys all over the world recognize Donald Trump’s about to be back in office, so they’re cleaning house,” he said. “That’s a good thing, and I think it’s a testament to Donald Trump’s strength.”
When Jake Sullivan was asked about Vance’s comments during a White House briefing, Sullivan said, “I don’t follow,” before moving to the next question.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan stressed President Biden’s personal involvement in the massive East-West prisoner swap that led to the release of those individuals from Russia.
Sullivan said Biden’s effort included “multiple conversations with German Chancellor [Olaf] Scholz” and the leaders of other countries involved in the deal, as well as “calling the prime minister of Slovenia early in the afternoon of Sunday,” July 21.
An emotional Sullivan said “today was a very good day.”