Secretive and high-stakes negotiations led to a historic prisoner swap with Russia, freeing 16 hostages, including American journalist Evan Gershkovich. Just an hour before announcing he wouldn’t seek reelection, Biden made a crucial phone call that pushed the deal over the finish line. Amid months of tense talks and geopolitical maneuvering, Biden’s surprise move came as a last-minute effort while he was holed up with COVID at his Delaware beach house. The swap, marking the largest of its kind since the Cold War, saw the release of imprisoned Americans and Westerners in exchange for Russian citizens, showcasing Biden’s dramatic impact on international diplomacy right before his unexpected exit from the presidential race.
On Thursday, as the swap was unfolding in Ankara, Turkey, Biden met with the families of three American citizens and one American resident at the White House. He called them from the Oval Office, and then they joined him for a press conference reports the New York Times.
When asked what he said to the newly freed Americans, Biden simply said, “I said, ‘Welcome almost home.'”
While the smiles on their faces were genuine, they masked the long, stressful wait that had preceded this moment.
The White House had been working tirelessly behind the scenes to secure the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Gershkovich, former Marine Paul Whelan, Radio Liberty reporter Alsu Kurmasheva, and U.S. green card holder Vladimir Kara-Murza. Kara-Murza is known for his vocal criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
This effort involved high-stakes talks with Russia during a period of heightened tensions over the Ukraine war. It also required U.S. officials to persuade European allies, who were hesitant to meet Russia’s demands for returning a number of Russian prisoners held in the West.
The breakthrough came on July 21, the same day Biden made a surprising announcement that he would not run for reelection. Despite being at home in Delaware with COVID, Biden made a last-minute call to his Slovenian counterpart to finalize the deal. Slovenia eventually agreed to release two Russians convicted of espionage.
The deal was not certain until the very last minute. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, who had been deeply involved in the negotiations, became emotional at a White House briefing. He admitted that everyone involved was anxiously waiting until the final hours for confirmation.
The journey to this successful exchange began back in 2018 when Whelan was arrested. Gershkovich’s arrest in March 2023 complicated matters further. Russia’s main condition for the swap was the release of Vadim Krasikov, a Russian prisoner in Germany convicted of a high-profile murder. Germany was reluctant to release a criminal involved in such a serious case, requiring extensive diplomacy to persuade them.
The situation became even more challenging in February when Russian dissident Alexei Navalny died in prison. This setback dampened hopes, but the breakthrough finally came during an April meeting between Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who agreed to support the deal.
The swap was meticulously planned, including a quick trial for Gershkovich, which led to his 16-year prison sentence but also indicated Russia’s readiness for the swap.
On Thursday, as the deal was officially completed, Biden and the freed families gathered at the White House. Biden even had the families sing “Happy Birthday” to Kurmasheva’s daughter, marking a joyful end to a complex and emotional journey.
