President Biden and Vice President Harris greeted three United States citizens who were released from Russia during the prisoner exchange when they landed at Andrews Air Force Base on Thursday night.
The three Americans – journalist Evan Gershkovich, former Marine Paul Whelan and journalist Alsu Kurmasheva – landed at the base outside Washington, D.C., at around 11:45 p.m.
Biden and Harris waited at the bottom of the stairs when the plane landed. Whelan came out first and Biden greeted him, saying, “How are you, sir?” Everyone spoke and hugged each other. Gershkovich then got off the plane and hugged Harris and Biden and I spoke to them. The two also greeted their families.
Kurmasheva then came out and spoke to Biden and shook hands with Harris. Biden wished his daughter a happy birthday, who ran up to her saying, “I can’t believe you’re here.”
Whelan, after greeting his family, returned to Biden and shook his hand again. Also on the arrival track were several Wall Street Journal employees waiting for Gershkovich, his colleague.
The three former detainees arrived from Türkiye, where the prisoner exchange took place.
Biden met with the families of Gershkovich, Whelan, Kurmasheva and Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was also freed in the deal, previously at the White House. The president and families spoke with those released from the Oval Office as they headed to Turkey, and the families flanked Biden as he delivered remarks announcing the exchange.
The president highlighted the importance of allies, especially Slovenia, Norway and Turkey, in helping with the liberation.
Harris also made comments on Thursday before leaving Texas and returning to Washington.
“Today, despite all your suffering, it gives me great comfort to know that your horrible ordeal is over,” she said, adding that the administration “will never stop fighting” for the release of other Americans detained abroad.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
