On August 1, 2024, a dramatic prisoner swap unfolded in Ankara, Turkey, where 26 prisoners from seven nations were exchanged. Among those returning to Russia were eight Russians, including high-profile figures like Vadim Krasikov, a former intelligence officer convicted of murder in Germany. The swap, described as the largest since the Cold War, also involved controversial exchanges with Western countries. Former Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and political figure Vladimir Kara-Murza, who allegedly had ties to the CIA, were among those freed by Russia. This high-stakes exchange hints at secret deals and strained U.S.-Russia relations, leaving experts wondering if this is a rare moment of détente or a fleeting opportunity in an otherwise tense relationship.

Scott Ritter, a former U.S. Marine Corps intelligence officer and UN weapons inspector, suggests that this swap might be more than just a routine exchange. He believes that some of the people involved could be ...