In a historic prisoner exchange conducted between the United States and Russia late Wednesday night, Evan Gershkovich of The Wall Street Journal, former Marine Paul Whelan and Alsu Kurmasheva, a journalist from Radio Free Europe, were released from Russia.
“This is an incredible relief,” President Joe Biden said of the exchange, flanked by family members of Kurmasheva and the others. Biden led the room in singing “Happy Birthday” to Kurmasheva’s daughter, who will have her mom home for her 13th birthday tomorrow.
“The deal that made this possible was a feat of diplomacy and friendship,” Biden said.